Mumbai: The bakery owners in Mumbai have got an extension up to July 28 to convert the bakeries using coal/wood to green fuels after the Bombay High Court's judgement on Wednesday. The bakery owners' association had filed an application in the HC seeking an extension of time. The BMC had sent notices to 386 polluting bakeries to convert to PNG/electric by July 8.
The HC judgement said, ‘the peculiar facts and for the reasons mentioned in the application, we are satisfied that the time granted by this Court in the interregnum needs to be extended till the next date.’
Notably, out of 386 bakeries using coal/wood, only 46 have converted to environment-friendly fuel so far and 28 are in the process of conversion. Of the remaining 312, one bakery has closed down and 311 bakeries are yet to start the conversion.
The BMC was supposed to issue showcause notices to the defaulting bakeries and begin the prosecution procedure for their closure as well. However, with the extension of the deadline, the civic body will not issue any show-cause notice.
“With the HC order, the bakeries have got more time to start the conversion process. The next hearing is on July 28. The bakery owners had asked for an extension of time to the BMC. However, the BMC was following the court’s order passed on January 9 to ensure polluting bakeries conversion in six months. Thus, the bakeries association approached the HC seeking extension,” said a civic official.
The HC had slammed the state authorities, including the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and BMC for their casual approach towards curbing the sources of air pollution in Mumbai.
The court had directed the authorities to ensure the conversion of bakeries using coal/wood to eco-friendly fuels. The wood used by the bakeries is generally of low quality, which emits PM 2.5 and are one of the major sources of air pollution in the city.
The HC order adds that ‘Till the next date, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation shall not act on the Notice dated 29th January 2025.’
Total bakeries in Mumbai- 573
187 were already using eco-friendly fuels like PNG/electric
BMC issues notices to 386 polluting bakeries
So far, only 46 have converted, 28 are in process
Old deadline was July 8
Extended deadline July 28
