Pune is literally beginning to suffocate today, and yet all of us are conveniently ignoring it. Once known for its pleasant climate and clean environment, the city has now been pushed into a growing air pollution crisis. In winter, especially, a hazy atmosphere has become the norm. Continuous construction activity, an enormous increase in the number of vehicles, exposed soil, emissions from industrial areas, and incidents of garbage burning in the suburbs frequently push the city’s Air Quality Index to “moderate” or even “poor” levels. Respiratory illnesses are increasing, children get breathless while playing, and senior citizens struggle to breathe.
Yet one fundamental cause behind this crisis—the systematic assault on public “amenity spaces,” or reserved open spaces in the city—rarely becomes the centre of discussion.
Gardens, playgrounds, sports fields, land reserved for schools, green belts, and open spaces set aside for public use are not meant merely for beautification. They are the lungs of a city. Trees absorb fine particulate matter from the air. Open spaces allow air to circulate. Green cover reduces heat, enables rainwater to percolate into the ground, and lowers noise pollution. When these spaces shrink, pollution increases, heat intensifies, and air becomes trapped between concrete walls. Pune’s skyline may be rising, but the city’s capacity to breathe is diminishing.
In this context, the Supreme Court’s judgment dated 12 October 2011 in the case of *Girish Vyas vs. State of Maharashtra* becomes particularly significant. In that case, there was an attempt to de-reserve land in Pune that had been earmarked for public amenities and use it for private construction. The Court clearly stated that public amenities and open spaces are essential for civilized urban life. Under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, such spaces are given special importance and cannot be easily cancelled. The Court warned that if urban land is allowed to be consumed entirely by residential construction, cities would turn into “concrete jungles.” Looking at Pune’s current situation, that warning no longer appears theoretical—it feels real.
Within the jurisdictions of Pune Municipal Corporation, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, and PMRDA, changes to Development Plans, pressures to increase FSI, proposals to remove reservations without acquiring the land, and attempts to change land use have been consistently observed. Viewed individually, each case may seem minor; collectively, however, it amounts to a systematic strangulation of public spaces. Grounds are opened up for construction, land reserved for schools is made available for residential projects, and green belts are converted to commercial use. It increasingly appears that short-term economic gains are being prioritized over long-term environmental balance.
Air pollution is not limited to construction dust, vehicles, or industrial emissions. When buildings replace open land, local temperatures rise, air circulation reduces, and pollutants linger longer in the atmosphere. Fewer trees mean less absorption of fine particulate matter. Dense construction blocks the natural escape routes for emissions. As a result, the city becomes hotter, more humid, and more polluted. Protecting amenity spaces, therefore, is not merely a land-use issue—it is a matter of public health, environmental justice, and the quality of life of future generations.
In the *Girish Vyas* judgment, the Supreme Court clarified that once land is reserved for public amenities, any attempt to de-reserve it must follow a strict legal process, invite public objections, and prioritize public interest over private interest. The Court observed that there were “systematic assaults” on public spaces. Considering recent developments in the Pune Metropolitan Region, that observation appears even more striking today.
Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad were once cited as examples of planned urban development. Development Plans reserved adequate land for schools, hospitals, gardens, sports grounds, cultural centers, and other public facilities. The vision was that as the city and its population grew, essential services and amenities would remain accessible to citizens. However, what has unfolded over the past two to three decades has undermined that vision.
There was already a backlog in acquiring reserved lands. Many plots shown in Development Plans were never actually acquired. Due to lack of funds, administrative apathy, or political interference, land reserved for public amenities remained on paper for years. Citizens’ rightful spaces were trapped in files, while the cities expanded in an uncontrolled manner.
Simultaneously, the trend of altering and cancelling reservations increased. Some plots were opened up for residential or commercial use; in other cases, reservations were completely removed. Though “boosting development” was the official justification, the real impact was on public interest. Land meant for gardens, schools, or hospitals was transformed into high-rise buildings. The percentage of open space steadily declined as concrete expanded.
Adding to this were decisions to dilute planning standards. Earlier, there were specific norms for open spaces, educational facilities, and health services per thousand population. Over time, these standards were relaxed. The meaning of “minimum requirement” itself was redefined downward. What was once considered essential is now treated as optional.
Institutional backing for this shift came through the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR). Under the banner of uniform regulations across the state, construction capacity was significantly increased. Provisions such as higher FSI, premium FSI, and TDR gave developers greater opportunities. However, the enforceability and strength of requirements regarding amenity spaces and public facilities weakened in comparison. The result: taller skylines, but shrinking ground-level open spaces.
This issue is not confined to Pune or Pimpri-Chinchwad. In many rapidly growing cities across the state, numerous proposals to change or remove reservations have been approved in recent years. While populations continue to grow rapidly, the land reserved for public amenities is decreasing. In planning language, this may be called “rationalization,” but in social terms, it amounts to injustice toward future generations.
If children in a locality lack safe playgrounds or the elderly have no accessible parks for a walk, it is not merely a local inconvenience—it is a symptom of long-term planning failure. The quality of urban life is not measured only by tall buildings or wide roads. It is measured by the availability of public spaces, environmental balance, and shared civic facilities.
If the current trajectory continues, a serious question arises: will meaningful amenity spaces even remain in future Development Plans? Once land is built over, reclaiming it for public use becomes nearly impossible. Every planning change may offer temporary economic gain, but its social cost is long-lasting.
Balancing development and public interest is the responsibility of governance. Transparency, citizen participation, and a long-term vision are not mere policy buzzwords—they are fundamental principles tied to the future of cities. Otherwise, we risk bequeathing to the next generation cities devoid of greenery, public spaces, and breathable air—cities made only of concrete.
Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad are no longer just cities; they are rapidly expanding metropolitan regions. Development, investment, and infrastructure are necessary—but not at the cost of the city’s breath. The fight against pollution must begin with vehicles on the road and extend all the way to urban Development Plans. Protecting open spaces is not opposition to development; it is the foundation of sustainable development. Otherwise, the warning of “concrete jungles” may soon become reality. Ultimately, the pollution crisis will force us to decide: will we allow our cities to breathe, or will we let them suffocate?
Vijay Kumbhar
RTI Resource Person, RTI Columnist
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