Delhi Bans Coal and Firewood Based Tandoors Amid Severe Air Pollution

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee has imposed a comprehensive ban on the operation of traditional tandoors fueled by coal or firewood in all hotels, restaurants, banquet halls, roadside eateries, and dhabas throughout the national capital, marking a significant escalation in measures to curb escalating air pollution during the peak winter period.

Issued under the provisions of Section 31(A) of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, the directive requires all affected establishments to promptly convert to environmentally friendly alternatives, including electric or LPG gas-based tandoors and appliances, to eliminate emissions from solid fuel combustion that contribute substantially to particulate matter in the atmosphere.

Air quality monitoring stations across Delhi recorded persistently hazardous levels on December 16, 2025, with the Air Quality Index hovering in the 'severe' category at multiple locations such as Anand Vihar and ITO, reflecting the cumulative impact of vehicular emissions, construction dust, biomass burning, and localized sources like traditional cooking units.

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This restriction forms part of the stringent Stage IV protocols under the Graded Response Action Plan, activated by the Commission for Air Quality Management when pollution indicators surpassed critical thresholds, enforcing a broad prohibition on open burning of any biomass, municipal waste, or similar materials that release harmful pollutants.

Regulatory teams from the DPCC, municipal corporations, and associated departments have initiated widespread compliance checks and enforcement drives, with non-adherent establishments facing penalties, as the administration prioritizes immediate reductions in emission sources to protect public health amid the ongoing smog emergency.

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