The BMC has set a deadline for restaurants, dhabas, and bakeries using wood and coal to switch to green fuels by July 8. In the past three months, 29 out of 356 bakeries have already stopped using wood and transitioned to electric appliances. On Monday, the civic body warned all concerned parties to take immediate action to adopt alternative clean fuels in the next four months, or they may face strict penalties, including license revocation, fines, and legal action.
Bakeries, hotels, restaurants, street food vendors, and tandoor-based businesses in Mumbai often use low-quality wood or broken furniture as fuel, releasing harmful gases that pose serious health risks. These businesses contribute to air pollution, leading to lung disorders, heart diseases, and other ailments. The BMC, in line with the Bombay High Court’s (HC) January 9, 2025 order, is enforcing a shift from conventional fuels like wood and coal to cleaner alternatives such as LPG, PNG, CNG, and electricity to reduce pollution and safeguard public health.
The BMC issued notices to over 84 restaurants, eateries, and dhabas in the Worli, Lower Parel, and Prabhadevi areas starting from February 10 for failing to comply with air pollution regulations and for not switching from charcoal tandoors to green fuels. “Medical officials in all 25 administrative wards have been assigned the task of ensuring establishments transition to cleaner fuel alternatives, including those using conventional fuels partially for tandoors or other purposes. Trade licenses will be marked as ‘Not To Renew’ in the SAP system until the transition is completed. No new licenses will be issued to establishments using conventional fuels after July 8,” said a civic official.
Ashwini Joshi, Additional Municipal Commissioner, said, “In the past few months, several bakeries have accepted the changes and transitioned to green fuel. We expect the remaining ones to follow suit.” In December 2024, the BMC issued notices to bakeries, directing them to switch from firewood to alternative fuel sources like electricity or CNG to combat air pollution. A total of 102 bakeries have already received notices, and if any of them meet the minimum human and environmental safety requirements, they may be allowed to operate.
