Gurugram bans coal, wood-fired tandoors at hotels and restaurants to curb pollution

The Gurugram district administration has prohibited the use of coal and wood as fuel in tandoors at hotels, restaurants and open-air eateries across the district as part of measures to combat deteriorating air quality, officials said.

District Magistrate and Deputy Commissioner Uttam Singh issued the order under the revised provisions of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) notified by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).

The restrictions came into effect immediately, requiring all commercial food establishments to discontinue the use of coal- and wood-fired tandoors and switch to equipment operating on electricity, gas or other approved clean fuels.

According to an official statement, the order applies to hotels, restaurants and open-air eateries operating throughout the district.

𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱

The district magistrate directed the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram, Municipal Corporation of Manesar, Haryana State Pollution Control Board and other departments concerned to ensure strict compliance with the restrictions.

All sub-divisional magistrates have also been instructed to coordinate with municipal authorities and enforcement agencies for effective implementation of the order.

Officials have been directed to carry out regular inspections of commercial food establishments to identify violations and initiate appropriate action against those continuing to use prohibited fuels.

The administration has also made daily reporting mandatory, requiring enforcement agencies to submit details of inspections conducted, violations detected and action taken against non-compliant establishments.

The move is intended to reduce emissions generated by conventional solid fuels used in commercial cooking operations, particularly during periods when air pollution levels remain elevated.

𝗘𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹𝘀

Singh appealed to hotel owners, restaurant operators and other commercial establishments to cooperate with the administration in its efforts to control air pollution.

He stressed that operators must refrain from using coal and wood in tandoors and ensure that cooking equipment runs exclusively on approved clean-burning fuels.

The district administration also urged residents to support the pollution-control campaign and cooperate with enforcement officials.

Authorities said compliance with the restrictions would be monitored through coordinated inspections by municipal bodies, pollution control officials and the district administration.

The order forms part of the broader implementation of GRAP measures aimed at reducing pollution-generating activities across the National Capital Region.