Bhubaneswar, Jan 7: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), under the chairmanship of the Commissioner, has initiated a series of measures to tackle the rising air pollution levels in the capital city.

In a recent meeting, officials decided to enforce strict actions against practices contributing to poor air quality.

One of the key decisions is to shut down hotels and roadside eateries (dhabas) that continue to use coal or wood-fired stoves.

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The campaign will begin in the Lingaraj Temple area and later expand across the city. Authorities have warned that violators will face closure and penalties, ensuring that only clean cooking fuels are used.

The BMC also directed CRUT to ensure regular water sprinkling at bus depots and stands, along with daily cleaning and washing of buses. Zonal Commissioners have been tasked with monitoring compliance. Additionally, open burning has been strictly prohibited, with spot fines of ₹5,000 imposed on offenders.

Schools under the mid-day meal programme will now be required to use clean fuels for cooking, with zonal officers overseeing implementation. Ready-mix plants have also been instructed to strictly follow SPCB guidelines, including measures like water sprinkling and vehicle washing to curb dust emissions.

However, many small shopkeepers and dhaba owners expressed concerns, claiming they were unaware of the new rules.

Some argued that coal cooking gives better taste and is more affordable compared to gas, which increases costs and reduces profit margins. A few admitted they had already stocked coal for months but were now forced to switch to gas due to BMC’s enforcement.

Despite resistance from some traders, many citizens welcomed the move, stressing that preventive action is necessary to avoid situations like Delhi’s severe pollution crisis.