Statesman News Service Kolkata, July 30 : The state health department was directed to take steps within a week to stop the cooking of the patients' food in five big coal ovens in the SSKM hospital, according to an interim order of the Division Bench of Mr Justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya and Mr Justice RN Banerjee of Calcutta High Court today. The interim order was passed in the wake of an earlier court order on 28 September last year to prevent any pollution to Victoria Memorial Hall. The court had put a total embargo on the use of fossil fuel within three kilometres of Victoria Memorial Hall. SSKM hospital, The Hastings and Maidan Police Stations have taken steps in the matter with the help of Kolkata Municipal Corporation, it was stated in an affidavit. A direction was not given to stop cooking, which leads to pollution, immediately since it is meant for patients, the Division Bench observed. The state health department was further directed to give affidavit of compliance within a fortnight after Mr Subhas Dutta of Howrah Gantantrik Nagarik Samity moved a petition following an inspection of the central kitchen of the SSKM hospital, located on the southern side of the Victoria Memorial Hall. Besides the five big coal ovens, huge quantity of ash was found to be dumped near them. In all, five to six quintal of coal is burnt in the ovens daily. At night, coal is put into the ovens and covered with iron plates. In the process coal burns there round the clock, it was submitted. The hospital superintendent was informed of the matter. He reportedly said that he is aware of the court order but was unaware of the fossil fuel being used in the kitchen. LPG was being used in the kitchen but was discontinued after the supply agency demanded commercial rate from the contractor. A premier hospital like SSKM is using fossil fuel near VMH even after it has been forbidden and in the process it was causing pollution in the area.