India, Jan. 23 -- The Pune forest department has begun groundwork for the development of an oxygen park in Punawale, an area located on the outskirts of Pimpri-Chinchwad that has for long been neglected despite being classified as reserve forest land. The move comes after years of citizen complaints, political intervention and growing concerns over environmental degradation caused by rapid urbanisation of the region.

The proposed oxygen park will come up on 10 hectares of reserve forest land at survey number 23 in Punawale, which falls under the Paud forest range. Once developed, the park will be the green lung of Punawale and neighbouring areas that are witnessing intense construction activity, rising dust levels, and increasing vehicul...