World · India Bureau
Gurugram tightens pollution curbs with tandoor fuel restrictions
Gurugram has banned coal and wood-fired tandoors at hotels and restaurants as part of stricter pollution control measures. The new rules, issued under revised GRAP norms, permit only electric, gas, and approved clean-fuel equipment in commercial food establishments.
LSN India ·
The Gurugram Municipal Corporation has implemented fresh restrictions on cooking equipment at hospitality venues in a bid to combat rising air pollution levels in the National Capital Region. Under the revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) guidelines issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management, hotels, restaurants, and other food service establishments are now prohibited from operating coal or wood-fired tandoors.
The revised provisions mandate that only equipment powered by electricity, liquefied petroleum gas, or other pre-approved clean fuel sources may be used for commercial cooking operations. The restrictions apply across all categories of food service establishments, from large hotels to smaller eateries throughout the city.
The move aligns with broader air quality management strategies employed across the Delhi-NCR region during periods of elevated pollution. GRAP measures are typically implemented in phases depending on air quality index readings, with stricter norms activated when pollution levels deteriorate beyond specified thresholds.
The restriction on traditional tandoor cooking methods represents an effort to reduce particulate matter and other pollutants generated by solid fuel combustion. Compliance with the new regulations is expected to help reduce Gurugram's contribution to regional air pollution while encouraging the food service sector to adopt cleaner cooking technologies.