Pollution Control Aims At Bakeries And Farmers

N literally weeks since his inauguration Donald Trump has torn up the delicate lines drawn to contain climate change.

- GURBIR SINGH

There's already a tectonic shift away from green fuels as global oil corporations rush to rework their budgets to slogans of 'drill, baby, drill'! But at home, in India, the penchant of barking up the wrong tree to pay lip service to the environment never ceases.

What do you say to this? To reduce pollution levels in Mumbai, a division bench of the Bombay High Court has directed the ancient wood-fired bakeries be phased out. Darius Khambata, the amicus curie appearing in the matter, went so far as to state, without much evidence, the bakeries were the third largest pollutants after building construction sites and 'red' industrial units.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), not famed to act promptly, has in this case moved with lightning speed and decreed all bakeries, restaurants and 'dhabas' using wood and coal fuels switch to alternative cleaner fuels by 8 July, this year.

PRESERVING HERITAGE This could have only come from those who have no idea of Mumbai's culture and history. The cosmopolitan populace of the city has for centuries lived off the 'pav' or small bun-breads. They are available hot of the shelf all times of the day; and are a boon to the millions of shifting tenants and hard-pressed families who can't afford the luxury of cooking chap-atis and rice.