Park Bill: Move aimed at facilitating takeover of Lalbagh land for Tunnel Road, say environmentalists, city BJP MPs
The Karnataka government has proposed an amendment to the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) Act, 1975, allowing 5% of park land to be alienated for public purposes. Environmentalists and opposition MPs argue this move is a strategic attempt to bypass ongoing High Court litigation regarding the proposed Bengaluru Twin Tunnel Road project, which threatens to encroach upon Lalbagh.
Why it matters
This legislative change highlights a growing conflict between urban infrastructure development and the preservation of critical green spaces in rapidly expanding metropolitan areas like Bengaluru.
The Karnataka Cabinet clearing a Bill to amend the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) Act, 1975, to allow 5% of parks and garden lands to be alienated for public purposes, drew severe criticism from citizen groups, environmentalists, and BJP MPs from the city.
Reading the Amendment in the context of recent developments, environmentalists and citizens have alleged that the move is aimed at facilitating the 17.1-km Bengaluru North-South Twin Tunnel Road, which starts at Hebbal and ends at Central Silk Board Junction.
Dattatreya T. Devare, an environmental activist, said that laws were now being amended to defend the case against the tunnel project in the High Court of Karnataka, which is hearing a batch of three public interest litigations challenging the project.
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