In a bid to tackle urban pollution, Mumbai’s cherished bakeries are undergoing a major shift. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has given bakeries a one-year deadline to transition from firewood to other energy sources, like electricity or piped natural gas (PNG).

Notices have been sent to 650 bakeries in Mumbai currently using firewood, a major pollution contributor. The one-year window gives these establishments time to make financial and logistical adjustments.

This move follows a study by the Bombay Environmental Action Group, which revealed that nearly half of Mumbai’s bakeries still rely on firewood, burning up to 300 kg daily—often using cheap scrap wood at ₹4-5 per kg. Of Mumbai’s 1,200 bakeries, over half operate without proper authorisation. Since 2007, 560 bakeries have been granted permission to operate under the condition of using electric or CNG ovens, yet many continue to use firewood.

BMC has warned that bakeries failing to switch to cleaner fuels within a year will face closure. This push for cleaner energy is part of the city’s efforts to combat its pollution crisis, with Mumbai currently ranked 162nd on the global pollution scale. The BMC is working closely with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board to support a smooth transition for the bakeries.