Gurugram has banned hotels, restaurants and open eateries from using coal- and wood-fired tandoors, with the order taking immediate effect as authorities implement revised measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to control rising air pollution.
The order was issued by Gurugram District Magistrate and Deputy Commissioner Uttam Singh. It requires food establishments to stop using coal and wood for cooking and switch to electricity, gas or other approved clean fuels. The direction applies to hotels, restaurants and open food outlets across the district.
The order places enforcement responsibility on the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram, the Municipal Corporation of Manesar and officials of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board. These agencies have been instructed to ensure that commercial food establishments comply with the restriction.
Under the direction, officials must conduct regular inspections of hotels, restaurants and other food businesses. Operators found using prohibited fuels will face action under applicable rules. The administration has also ordered officials to submit daily reports detailing inspections, violations and the action taken against establishments that breach the ban.
The restriction is based on revised GRAP provisions issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). GRAP provides a framework for progressively stronger measures in the National Capital Region when air quality deteriorates. The Gurugram order links the local enforcement action to that wider regional air-pollution response system.
For restaurants and other food businesses, the order requires a change in cooking equipment wherever coal- or wood-fired tandoors are being used. The administration has directed operators to use only equipment powered by electricity, gas or other approved clean fuels. The source report does not specify a separate deadline for replacing existing tandoors because the restriction is stated to apply immediately.
The directive also makes routine inspection and reporting a continuing part of enforcement rather than a one-time campaign. The three agencies named in the order will be responsible for identifying establishments using prohibited fuels and documenting the action taken. The administration has warned that violations will attract action under the applicable rules.
The district administration has appealed to residents and commercial operators to cooperate with efforts to reduce air pollution. It has specifically asked hotels and restaurants to stop using coal and wood completely and ensure that their cooking equipment operates on approved clean fuels.
The order does not state the quantity of pollution reduction expected from the measure, nor does the supplied information specify the penalties that will apply to individual violations. Its immediate operational focus is the inspection of food establishments and daily reporting by the designated civic and pollution-control authorities.
