Mumbai, March 14 -- The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to overlook its ban on restaurants and eateries using coal and firewood in light of the disruption in LPG supplies due to the US-Israeli war on Iran, civic officials told Hindustan Times. "Though there is no formal order as such, the civic administration won't take any action on restaurants using coal and firewood because it is crucial that businesses continue to operate," a senior BMC official said, requesting anonymity. If the crisis is not resolved in a few days and gas availability remains low in the medium term, a balanced policy must be drafted to ensure Mumbai's pollution remains under check, the official said. The BMC had, following a High Court directive on January 9, 2025 aimed at curbing air pollution in the city, mandated that restaurants must switch from coal to electric cooktops by July 8, 2025, or face penalties and license revocation. Its decision to overlook the ban is likely to benefit the hotel industry, which has been hit hard by the shortage in LPG supplies. HT visited several restaurants in the city on Friday to understand how they were grappling with the situation. Many said they had switched to coal, but were facing difficulties in procuring large quantities, while others continued to operate on gas, with a reduction in service hours or items on the menu. "We have entirely moved to cooking on coal stoves because getting a gas cylinder has become almost impossible despite the government's assurances," said a south Mumbai-based restaurateur who did not wish to be identified. Another eatery owner said they were finding it difficult to secure regular supply of coal and were thus unable to completely switch over from LPG cylinders. "We haven't switched over to coal as the civic body doesn't permit its usage," said a representative of Aram Restaurant at Fort. In Matunga, the popular Mani's Lunch Home, which usually runs from 6am to 10pm, downed shutters around 2pm on Friday due to gas shortage. Representatives of hotel industry bodies welcomed the central government's decision to allocate 20% of the average monthly supply of LPG cylinders to commercial establishments, but were unsure about when the allocation would translate into available supply. Demand for coal has risen significantly, but supplying it remains a challenge, said Imran Kolsawala, joint secretary of the Bombay Charcoal Merchants Association. "Despite ordering additional trucks, we are not assured of receiving as much coal. At the mines too, they will have to ramp up. Additionally, many more trucks are required for transport," he told HT....