BMC Takes Action On Bakery Pollution: Given Deadline To Switch From Firewood To Electric Or PNG

Published: Thursday, December 26, 2024, 11:17 [IST]

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a directive to bakeries in Mumbai, requiring them to stop using firewood as fuel within the next year, according to a Midday report. This move is part of the city's efforts to address pollution caused by burning wood.

Notices have already been sent to 650 bakeries currently relying on firewood for their ovens. An official from the BMC's environment department explained in the same report, "We have given bakeries one year to switch to electric ovens or piped natural gas (PNG). This period considers the financial investment and the necessary permissions involved."

Burning wood has been identified as a significant source of air pollution in Mumbai. The BMC has begun inspections across all wards and is serving notices to bakeries still using firewood. Experts from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board are also advising the BMC on this issue.

The action follows a report by the Bombay Environmental Action Group (BEAG), published on August 22. The report revealed that over 47 per cent of bakeries in Mumbai use firewood, often opting for scrap wood from old furniture and buildings because it is cheaper than logwood.

According to BEAG's survey of nearly 200 bakeries out of 628 registered with the BMC, larger bakeries consume up to 300 kilograms of wood daily, while smaller ones use around 130 kilograms. To process 20 kilograms of flour, bakeries typically require four to five kilograms of wood. Scrap wood costs between Rs four and Rs five per kilogram, significantly less than logwood, which costs Rs 10 to Rs 12 per kilogram.

The findings were submitted to the BMC in August 2024, prompting the civic body to take action to phase out firewood and reduce its impact on air quality.