The government's takeover of Delhi's historic Jaipur Polo Ground has ignited a fierce debate about the future of green spaces in India's capital, with environmentalists warning of worsening air quality and heat stress. The six-hectare (15-acre) site, padlocked this week, had been a social hub for nearly a century, hosting polo matches attended by royalty, diplomats, and wealthy industrialists.
Government Takeover and Legal Battle
Government officials took over the polo grounds, along with the nearby 11-hectare colonial-era Delhi Gymkhana Club, as part of a plan for a "larger public purpose and benefit," according to lawyers in court. The club had paid rent until 2030, but the government proceeded despite ongoing court cases. No specific details of the purpose have been provided, but critics believe high-rise apartment blocks for civil service and defence personnel will be built.
"I've played polo here for 40 years," said a polo enthusiast who wished to remain anonymous. "So did my father and my grandfather. People may say it's an elite sport but, unlike in many other countries, anyone could come and watch the matches absolutely free when the season was on."
Environmental Concerns and Judicial Response
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna of the Delhi High Court expressed concern that building high-rises on the polo grounds would deprive residents of scarce open land. "All of us are going to suffocate and die," she observed. "You have no idea how we are choking. The small lung that we have, you are going to take it away."
Delhi, with a population of about 23 million (up from 17 million in 2011), has been hit by longer-than-usual heatwaves and extreme heat stress. Concrete and asphalt create urban "heat islands," making life hellish for outdoor workers such as street vendors, traffic police, and construction workers.
According to a report last month by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 97 of the world’s 100 hottest cities are in India. Open spaces are shrinking, parks are turned into parking for the city's 8 million vehicles, and children have hardly anywhere to play.
Impact on Vulnerable Populations
Pavan Das, a homeless auto-rickshaw driver in Bharat Nagar, sleeps on the pavement every night, inches from speeding cars. "I know it's dangerous," he said. "But, like this, I get a breeze from the passing cars. Otherwise, it's suffocatingly hot and I can't sleep." Even slum homes are furnaces with no ventilation, and any breeze is warmed by air conditioners pushing hot air into the atmosphere.
Rajiv Seth, joint secretary of the residents’ welfare association in Friends Colony West, noted that infrastructure is stretched to the limit. "We'll be lucky if the fire brigade can even enter," he said, citing badly parked cars and encroachments.
Campaigners' Perspective
Bhavreen Kandhari, an anti-pollution campaigner and founder of Warrior Moms, dreads multi-storey buildings on the land. "The issue is not polo versus public use," she said. "It's open green space versus construction. Delhi can't afford to lose yet another open green space, which serves to reduce heat stress, support urban biodiversity and provide vital breathing space in a city struggling with pollution and rising temperatures."
