Punawale, 11th January 2026: Rapid urbanisation over the past decade has transformed Punawale, a locality close to Hinjawadi, with a sharp rise in residential buildings, housing societies and population. Alongside this growth, residents have repeatedly raised concerns over dust pollution, shrinking green cover and declining air quality. After years of sustained public opposition to a proposed garbage depot, the area has now received a major environmental boost with the completion of an Oxygen Park on the same site.
The Oxygen Park, developed on around two acres of land in Punawale, is set to be inaugurated soon. Named after Kashinath Krushnaji Dhawale (Patil), the project has emerged as a result of prolonged civic resistance and follow-up led by former corporator Rahul Kalate, along with active participation from local residents.
ResidentsтАЩ Movement Forces Change
The site was earlier earmarked for a garbage depot, a proposal that triggered strong opposition from Punawale residents due to fears of environmental damage, health risks and the felling of thousands of trees. Rahul Kalate opposed the project from its initial stages, raising objections in the municipal general body and supporting citizensтАЩ protests on the ground. Government officials who visited the site for measurements reportedly had to return without completing the process due to intense local resistance.
After more than 15 years of continuous agitation, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation eventually scrapped the proposed garbage depot. Kalate, as the local elected representative from Ward No. 25, pursued the matter with civic authorities and also held discussions with the then industries minister Uday Samant. Former MLA Ashwini Jagtap had raised the issue in the legislature, following which the project was stayed and later cancelled.
Green Belt in Place of Garbage Depot
The Oxygen Park is envisioned as a large eco-friendly green belt aimed at addressing air pollution and improving quality of life. The park will include landscaped gardens, tree plantations, walking tracks, and dedicated seating areas for senior citizens. Residents had consistently demanded that the land be preserved as a green zone rather than used for waste processing, a demand that has now materialised.
With urbanisation steadily reducing green spaces across Punawale and the wider Pimpri-Chinchwad area, projects like the Oxygen Park are being seen as critical interventions to combat rising pollution levels and dust-related health issues.
Fitness and Public Amenities
In addition to greenery, the park will feature an open gym, fitness circuits, safe walking paths for children and senior citizens, and quiet relaxation zones. According to Rahul Kalate, these facilities have been planned keeping in mind public health, fitness and the need for accessible open spaces within rapidly developing urban pockets.
Speaking about the initiative, Kalate said, тАЬWith green cover steadily declining and its impact on public health becoming evident, Punawale needed a green belt like this Oxygen Park. The successful opposition to the garbage depot is a victory for citizens who stood up for the environment. The Kashinath Krushnaji Dhawale (Patil) Oxygen Park will provide clean air, greenery and a healthier environment. Along with open gym facilities and public amenities, our effort is to promote a healthy lifestyle while ensuring development does not come at the cost of the environment.тАЭ
The Oxygen Park is now being viewed as a model of citizen-led environmental action, offering Punawale residents long-awaited relief from dust pollution while reinforcing the importance of sustainable urban development.
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