BMC's Ban on Wood and Charcoal in Bakeries May Disrupt 'Pav' Supply in Mumbai, Warn Bakers

Mumbai, February 21: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)'s decision to ban the use of wood and charcoal in bakeries, as part of its air pollution control measures, has sparked concerns among Maharashtra's bakery owners and local leaders. They claim that the move could disrupt the supply of 'pav'—a staple bread used in the popular 'vada pav'—and lead to price hikes of this essential food item.

The Indian Bakers Association (IBA), representing 110 bakeries across Mumbai, has sent a formal letter to BMC officials, highlighting the potential fallout of the decision. The letter emphasized that 'pav' is an integral part of Mumbai's street food culture, and any disruption in its supply could lead to unwanted situations in the city.

The BMC's directive comes in response to a Bombay High Court order aimed at reducing air pollution. The civic body has instructed bakeries, eateries, and restaurants to switch to cleaner fuels such as electricity, CNG, PNG, and LPG by July 8.

KP Irani, a member of the IBA, expressed his concerns to PTI, stating that the BMC made the decision without consulting bakers. He pointed out that baking pav, bread, buns, and brun pav using electricity is economically unfeasible and practically challenging in the existing 150-square-foot dome-shaped structures of traditional bakeries.

Irani further added that while LPG and PNG are suggested as alternative fuels, they pose safety risks. He mentioned, "Each bakery would require at least 10 LPG cylinders on average, which could be dangerous in case of an accident. Moreover, PNG infrastructure is not yet available everywhere in Mumbai."

The IBA has urged the BMC to reconsider the ban and explore viable solutions that balance environmental concerns with the sustainability of traditional bakeries and affordability for consumers.