Gurgaon: Hotels, restaurants and eateries across the city have been directed to stop using coal and firewood as fuel, including in traditional tandoors, with the district administration ordering an immediate ban and directing civic authorities and pollution control officials to conduct inspections to enforce the restriction.Deputy commissioner Uttam Singh, in an order, directed all such establishments to switch to electricity-based, gas-based or other permitted clean-fuel appliances, in compliance with the Commission for Air Quality Management’s (CAQM) revised directions under Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).The restriction prohibits the use of coal and firewood as fuel in eateries, including for operating traditional tandoors. It is aimed at reducing particulate matter and other pollutants released by burning these fuels, which adversely affect ambient air quality and public health, particularly during periods of deteriorating air quality in the National Capital Region.To ensure compliance, the municipal corporation, other concerned municipal authorities and regional officers of Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) have been directed to jointly enforce the ban. HSPCB’s Gurgaon regional officers (north and south) will ensure that establishments stop using the prohibited fuels and shift to permitted clean-fuel alternatives.Sub-divisional magistrates have also been asked to coordinate with municipal authorities and other enforcement agencies for effective implementation. The district information and public relations officer has been tasked with publicising the order to create awareness among establishments and the public.The administration has directed the concerned authorities to submit daily action-taken reports detailing inspections, violations detected and action initiated. These reports will be submitted to the concerned regional officer of HSPCB.“The order follows CAQM’s revised GRAP schedule dated Sept 29, 2026, which calls for strict enforcement of the existing prohibition on coal and firewood in tandoors at hotels, restaurants and open eateries,” an official said.CAQM’s direction no. 66, issued on Aug 5, 2022, had prohibited the use of coal and firewood, including in traditional tandoors, and required eateries to use electricity-based or clean-fuel gas-based appliances. HSPCB subsequently adopted CAQM’s approved fuels list for NCR and non-NCR areas of Haryana through an order dated July 21, 2022. The approved fuels list for NCR became fully applicable from Jan 1, 2023.The district administration’s latest order has come into force with immediate effect and will remain operative subject to applicable laws and subsequent directions issued by CAQM or other competent authorities.
