Mumbai, an environmental non-profit organisation has raised its concerns over the worrying use of wood as fuel in Mumbai’s bakeries, warning that it poses serious health risks to citizens and advocating for the adoption of cleaner methods to combat air pollution.
The Bombay Environment Action Group surveyed 200 bakeries across the city over a six-month period and found that about 47 percent of these establishments rely on wood fuel, mostly from waste from furniture stores, to operate.
This practice releases harmful volatile organic compounds and particles into the air, leading to asthma and other diseases, according to a report by the BEAG.
PM2.5 refers to fine dust particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less. They can enter the lungs and even the bloodstream and are therefore particularly harmful to health.
According to the study, Byculla and Mumbai Central areas have the highest bakery density with 84 establishments, followed by Andheri with 53 and Mohammed Ali Road with 39 bakeries.
The BEAG study also estimated that 72 of the bakeries surveyed emitted 80,381 kg of PM2.5, underscoring the severity of the problem.
Electricity is the second most common fuel, used by 28 percent of bakeries, while around 21 percent rely on a combination of LPG and electricity, the report said.
The environmental NGO said the study aims to raise awareness and call for immediate action to protect the health of Mumbai’s people and the city’s environment.
It advocates a gradual transition of bakeries in Mumbai to cleaner fuels and suggests cost-benefit analyses and financial incentives for owners to reduce environmental impact.
BEAG said it had submitted its report to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and requested the authorities to take immediate action.
It was stressed that cooperation between government agencies, bakery owners and stakeholders is crucial for a successful transition.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without any modifications.
