BMC Issues 712 Notices to Mumbai Bakeries and Restaurants for Green Fuel Conversion | File Photo
Mumbai: The BMC has issued as much as 712 notices to establishments across Mumbai which are using coal/wood to convert to green fuels. The establishments includes 279 bakeries and 443 restaurants/eateries.
The notices are issued in compliance to Bombay High court directives to take immediate measures to curb the sources of air pollution in the city. Thus, the establishments which use coal and/or wood have been given ultimatum of six months (by July 9) to convert to PNG/CNG/electric.
Out of the total notices, maximum notices are issued in F/S (Lalbaug, Parel), E Ward (Byculla, Nagpada) and L ward (Kurla). However, although BMC started issuing notices early in February, till now not a single notice is issued to A (Colaba, Churchgate), B (Masjid), P/S (Goregaon) and R/N (Dahisar).
Senior officer from BMC’s Environment department said that the Health Department is carrying out Inspection and issuing notices, however, there have been issues of staff crunch at the ward level because of which notices are not yet issued in some wards. However, the Enviornment department has been following up with the health department on carrying out Inspections in the remaining wards.
Meanwhile, the Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHAR) has written to BMC’s Health Department seeking clarification on notices issued to hotels and restaurants when the HC order mentions only bakeries.
“We are waiting for response and a meeting with the Executive Health officer. The paragraph 15 of the HC order does not mention restaurants but only bakeries. However, we have not stopped restaurants to convert to green fuels, however, seek clarification on interpretation of the HC order,” said Sudhakar Shetty, President of AHAR. Shetty said that if the body is not satisfied with the clarification by the BMC, it will approach the HC.
Speaking on the issue, a senior BMC officer said that the Enviornment department has recieved directives from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board issue notices to restaurants and hotels as well. The objective is to curb the sources of air pollution.
