Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, Jul 10: In a significant relief to over 300 city bakeries, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday extended the deadline for transitioning to cleaner fuels from July 8 to July 28, and restrained the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) from initiating action until then. The division bench comprising Justice M S Karnik and Justice N R Borkar passed the interim order while hearing an application filed by Masoodul Hasan Khan and others, seeking additional time to comply with the BMC’s directives.

The issue dates back to a January 9 court order, which prompted the BMC to serve notices to bakeries still operating on coal or wood. As per the order, all such establishments were required to switch to eco-friendlier alternatives like LPG, PNG, or electric ovens by July 8. However, 311 out of 573 operational bakeries continue to use traditional fuels, prompting legal intervention.

Representing the bakery community, Bombay Bakers Association (BBA) president M Yakub cited delays in obtaining permissions for gas line installations as the primary hurdle. “Many bakeries have applied for PNG connections from Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL), but BMC has refused permission to dig recently laid concrete roads. Moreover, such permissions are even harder to come by during the monsoon,” Yakub explained, requesting a year’s time for a complete transition.

In response, additional municipal commissioner Abhijeet Bangar stated that, to his knowledge, no gas connection had been delayed due to BMC’s denial of road-digging permissions. He acknowledged that while monsoon restrictions are in place, exceptions might be considered for MGL post-monsoon, given the technical constraints of laying gas lines in existing ducts.
As per the BMC environment department, 46 bakeries have already transitioned, 28 are in the process, and one has closed down. Including the 187 bakeries that had already switched prior to October, 311 — amounting to 54% — still operate on conventional fuels.

Officials estimated the cost of conversion between Rs 10 to Rs 20 lakh or more depending on the bakery’s size. They informed that a central government scheme offers loans up to Rs 1 crore, with a subsidy of Rs 10 lakh to support the switch. Additionally, MGL has reportedly surveyed and confirmed feasibility for PNG connections for 97 more bakeries and is willing to extend pipelines up to bakery premises at its own cost, provided the bakeries pay the necessary security deposit.

With the matter now adjourned until the extended deadline, bakeries across Mumbai have gained a temporary reprieve, even as the debate over environment versus infrastructure readiness continues.