Parks bill not withdrawn completely: Parameshwara
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara announced that the government is revising rather than fully withdrawing a controversial bill regarding the preservation of government parks. The revised bill may still allow for land alienation for specific public infrastructure projects like tunnel roads.
Why it matters
The decision reflects the tension between urban infrastructure development and the preservation of public green spaces in major Indian cities.
Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara indicated on Thursday that the government was not completely withdrawing the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, stating that it would return in a different form.
“There has been public feedback on the Bill. We are also aware of the discussion in public, which will help us make a decision. We will review the clauses, especially those on lease/mortgage/sale and others, after which appropriate changes will be made,” he said.
The Bill would thus be amended and brought back to the Assembly, which means Lalbagh land could still be alienated through specific amendments to the legislation for the Tunnel Road project.
The Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) Act, 1975, has previously been amended six times to permit the use or alienation of specific portions of government parks for identified public projects.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in