Mumbai: In a significant step that would expedite the method and ease the monetary burden of bakeries utilizing coal and wooden to transform into inexperienced fuels, the authorities are contemplating to grant subsidy to the bakery homeowners. The Maharashtra Air pollution Management Board (MPCB) and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Company (BMC) is mulling over to grant publish execution subsidy to bakeries to transform into CNG/PNG.
Mumbai nonetheless has round 350 bakeries which use coal and wooden, and as per Bombay Excessive Courtroom instructions, the authorities have to make sure all bakeries are transformed into inexperienced fuels.
Bakeries are one of many main supply of air air pollution in Mumbai and the HC lately slammed the authorities for his or her informal strategy in the direction of curbing sources of air pollution.
“Out of 815 authorized bakeries, 356 nonetheless use coal and wooden. As per HC instructions, the bakeries should mandatorily convert into utilizing CNG/PNG by 12 months finish. Though many bakeries have began changing, a number of are hesitant due to the expenditure,” stated a senior BMC officer.
“In a strategy to ease their monetary burden, the MPCB and BMC is contemplating to grant subsidy. Nonetheless, the quantity will probably be deposited after execution. We’re working in the direction of sending state authorities proposal to supply funds underneath fifteenth pay fee,” the officer stated.
The officer added that there must be a coverage for granting subsidy to the bakeries and the BMC is within the course of to make pointers. The research is predicted to be accomplished by subsequent month, nevertheless, the finalisation of the coverage will take time.
MPCB Member Secretary Avinash Dhakne confirmed that the board has prompt BMC to contemplate granting subsidy to the bakeries to transform into inexperienced fuels. “All bakeries in Mumbai should compulsorily convert into CNG/PNG inside the given deadline. If BMC agrees to the proposal, MPCB will bear 50% of the subsidy BMC is bearing.” Dhakne stated.
Nonetheless, BMC says if the proposal is cleared, the MPCB and BMC will bear equal subsidy. The HC in its latest judgement directed the BMC to make sure all bakeries in Mumbai are transformed into utilizing inexperienced fuels inside six months, as a substitute of early deadline of 1 12 months.
Bakeries utilizing coal and wooden are usually not solely one of many main supply of air air pollution within the metropolis, however the low-cost wooden used to save cash, emits highest PM2.5 pollutant, the simply breathable matter, which could be very dangerous.
As a part of its rapid measures, the BMC lately additionally began the process of prosecution towards 102 unlawful bakeries in Mumbai. Within the subsequent HC listening to, scheduled on February 13, the BMC will give replace on actions taken towards to deal with air air pollution within the metropolis.
