Turning up the heat! 1200 bakeries in Mumbai on radar, as BMC cracks down on wood fuel use

In a bid to combat pollution, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced plans to audit all bakeries in Mumbai using wood as fuel, warning them of impending action. The civic body aims to phase out firewood-fuelled ovens, mandating the use of electric or piped natural gas (PNG) ovens.

Findings by the Bombay Environmental Action Group (BEAG) show that 47.10% of Mumbai’s bakeries rely on wood as fuel. Large bakeries consume 250–300 kg of wood daily, while smaller ones average around 130 kg. Preparing 20 kg of dough requires 4–5 kg of wood, with scrap wood costing ₹4–5 per kg, compared to ₹10–12 per kg for logwood.

Mumbai has approximately 1,200 bakeries, according to BMC data. Of the 628 bakeries registered with the civic body, around 200 primarily use scrap wood from old furniture and dilapidated buildings due to its affordability. Only 28.10% of registered bakeries operate with electric ovens, 20.90% rely on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and 1.30% use piped natural gas (PNG) or diesel.

BMC clarified that licences for firewood-based bakeries have not been issued since 2007, yet complaints about non-compliant bakeries persist. To address this, the BMC plans to audit bakeries citywide, coordinate with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, and ensure a shift to sustainable energy practices.