Bombay HC suggests phasing out diesel vehicles, wood and coal kilns to curb Mumbai air pollution

The Bombay High Court on Thursday proposed phasing out diesel vehicles and wood or coal-fired kilns used by bakeries to curb air pollution in Mumbai, reported Bar and Bench.

A bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice GS Kulkarni said that transitioning to cars that run on compressed natural gas and electric vehicles instead of those that operate on diesel was important. “Not to copy Delhi, but can we consider permitting only CNG-driven vehicles and phasing out diesel engines?” the bench was quoted as having asked.

The court was hearing a 2023 suo motu public interest litigation relating to concerns regarding the deteriorating air quality in Mumbai.

During the hearing on Thursday, advocate Darius Khambatta, who is the amicus curiae in the matter, said that kilns, or bhattis, used by bakeries were the third-biggest contributor to the air quality crisis in the city. Pollution emanating from construction sites and red-category industries, such as smelters whose pollution index score is 60 and above, were the two biggest contributors.

The score denotes the level of pollution it produces. Industrial sectors having pollution index score up to 20 falls in the white category and those with scores between 21 and 40 are in the green category. A score from 41 to 59 indicates…

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