Mumbai: With the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) advising state pollution regulators to temporarily allow industries, hotels and restaurants to use alternate fuels in view of LPG supply constraints, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) chairman Siddhesh Kadam said his department was drafting a proposal to expedite it. A final call, however, will be taken by the state govt. In the meantime, several restaurants have begun using pellets, coal, biomass, etc. In an advisory issued on March 12 to all PCBs and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs), the CPCB said establishments operating under Consent to Operate (CTO) are usually required to use specific approved fuels so that emissions remain within prescribed norms. Bombay High Court had also stressed that public health and the right to clean air must take precedence over commercial considerations while dealing with pollution sources in Mumbai. Hearing PILs on rising pollution, the court had directed authorities to ensure that bakeries, restaurants and other establishments shift from wood- or coal-based ovens to cleaner fuels.However, citing an “extraordinary situation” caused by LNG supply disruption, the national pollution watchdog said state regulators may permit temporary use of alternate fuels after consulting the respective state govts or Union Territory administrations.According to the advisory, establishments may be allowed to switch to fuels such as biomass or refuse-derived fuel (RDF) pellets in place of PNG for a limited period. The CPCB clarified that such permission should be granted only for a short duration and not exceeding one month from the date of issuance of the advisory.The board also said that if these alternative fuels are not available, use of kerosene or coal could be considered as a temporary option, subject to consultation with the state govt and compliance with directions issued by courts or other competent authorities.The move comes amid fuel supply disruptions that have affected commercial establishments, particularly eateries and small industrial units, in major cities. Restaurants and small businesses rely heavily on PNG or LPG for daily operations.Officials said the temporary relaxation is aimed at ensuring that commercial activity is not disrupted. Environmental groups, however, cautioned that allowing kerosene or coal could worsen air quality in the city at a time when rising heat and humidity already contribute to deteriorating pollution levels.Stakeholders in the oil sector too questioned the viability of the move. Fuel dealer Kedar Chandak said bulk kerosene stocks rarely exist since the banning of the fuel a few years ago. The Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association president, Vijay Shetty, said even finding coal for his restaurant was difficult.
