Karnataka Park Land Amendment Sparks Concerns Over Bengaluru Green Spaces

The Karnataka Cabinet's decision to clear a Bill amending the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) Act, 1975 has drawn criticism from environmentalists, citizen groups, and BJP MPs from Bengaluru. The proposed amendment would allow up to 5% of park and garden lands to be alienated for public purposes.

Critics argue that the move is aimed at facilitating the 17.1-km Bengaluru North-South Twin Tunnel Road, which is proposed to run from Hebbal to Central Silk Board Junction. They point to recent developments, including ongoing litigation in the High Court of Karnataka, as the backdrop for the amendment.

Environmental activist Dattatreya T. Devare said the amendment appears designed to defend the tunnel project in court. The High Court is hearing a batch of three public interest litigations challenging the project. According to Mr. Devare, the petitioners raised objections based on a review of existing laws, including the Parks (Preservation) Act. He said that by amending the law, the government aims to escape the petitions against both the long and short tunnels. He expressed concern that opposition to proposed projects is being ignored or defeated through amendments, citing the recent reduction of buffer zones along drains to accommodate roads.

The court, on July 16, directed that the fate of the tunnel road project would depend on the outcome of the court case. This makes the timing of the amendment significant, according to legal observers.

Bengaluru South MP L.S. Tejasvi Surya said the tunnel project would pass through Lalbagh and require around 1.92 hectares (nearly five acres) for the tunnel and shaft. The Detailed Project Report also proposes parking and a commercial complex around the shaft, he noted. In an open letter to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Mr. Surya said the Cabinet's decision could have serious implications for the city's remaining green spaces.

Bengaluru Central MP P.C. Mohan termed the Bill “a dangerous assault on Bengaluru’s green spaces.” He stated that laws protecting Lalbagh and Cubbon Park must be strengthened, not diluted to enable projects. He announced that the BJP would oppose the Bill.

The state government has not yet issued a detailed response to the criticism. It is also unclear whether the Bill will be tabled in the ongoing Karnataka Legislature Session. The amendment, if passed, would amend a law that has been in place for decades to preserve parks and gardens in urban areas.

The controversy highlights the tension between infrastructure development and environmental conservation in rapidly growing cities. While the government has maintained that projects like the tunnel road are needed to ease traffic congestion, activists and opposition lawmakers argue that green spaces are irreplaceable public assets. The outcome of both the legislative process and the court case will determine the future of Bengaluru's parks.