87 Mumbai bakeries still burn wood and coal as court deadline lapses; BMC readies action

The time the Bombay High Court gave to curb rising air pollution in Mumbai has run out. Even so, 87 licensed bakeries in the city have not fully stopped using wood and coal. The court also rejected a plea to extend the deadline, and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has now taken a firm stand.

The civic body is preparing direct action against these 87 bakeries, which have not switched to clean fuel. Other bakeries burning wood without permission may also face action. The civic health department and the fire brigade will run the drive together.

The city has 583 licensed bakeries on record, of which five have shut permanently. Most of the rest have made the change, but 87 are still running on the old fuel. These bakeries account for about 3.5 per cent of Mumbai's PM10 pollution.

A study by the Bombay Environmental Action Group found that many bakeries burn painted and processed waste wood from old furniture. The smoke releases hazardous volatile organic compounds into the air, raising the risk of respiratory illness among Mumbai residents. It also contributes to smog and to higher levels of harmful ozone.

In January 2025, during the hearing of a public interest litigation, the court gave bakeries six months to switch to clean fuels such as LPG, PNG or electricity. The BMC then sent notices to bakery owners. Guidance camps were also held to help them get financial assistance under the PMFME scheme. Even so, 87 bakeries continue to flout the rules.

Operators who have adopted clean fuel say the higher costs have broken their backs. Mirza Ghiyasuddin Beg, who runs a bakery in Byculla, said he had to invest up to Rs 20 lakh to install a system that runs on clean fuel. He said his monthly fuel bill has tripled because of LPG rates.

Bakers are therefore demanding that the administration subsidise clean fuel, so that businesses can survive while the environment is protected. They are caught between rising costs on one side and possible action by the BMC on the other.