The Karnataka Cabinet has cleared a bill to amend the 1975 Parks Act, allowing 5% of park land to be diverted for public use. Environmentalists and BJP leaders allege this is a strategic move to bypass legal hurdles for the Bengaluru Twin Tunnel Road project.

  • The Karnataka Cabinet approved an amendment to the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) Act, 1975.
  • The amendment allows for the alienation of up to 5% of park and garden lands for public purposes.
  • Critics claim the move is designed to facilitate the 17.1-km Bengaluru North-South Twin Tunnel Road.
  • The proposed tunnel project may require nearly 5 acres of land from the iconic Lalbagh Botanical Garden.

Bengaluru: In a move that has sparked intense debate over urban conservation, the Karnataka Cabinet on Friday approved a bill to amend the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) Act, 1975. The amendment proposes to allow 5% of land held within parks and gardens to be alienated for various "public purposes," a decision that has drawn immediate fire from environmental activists and political leaders.

The timing of this amendment has raised eyebrows across the state. Environmentalists and BJP MPs allege that the legislative change is a calculated attempt to clear the path for the massive 17.1-km Bengaluru North-South Twin Tunnel Road project. This ambitious infrastructure plan, stretching from Hebbal to the Central Silk Board Junction, is currently facing legal scrutiny in the High Court of Karnataka.

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Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that this amendment represents a significant shift in how urban green spaces are protected in India. By creating a legal loophole to divert a percentage of parkland, the state government may be setting a precedent that could eventually compromise the integrity of major ecological lungs like Lalbagh and Cubbon Park.

The amendment is being introduced primarily to circumvent the legal challenges raised in the High Court regarding the tunnel project.

Environmental activist Dattatreya T. Devare argued that the amendment is a direct response to Public Interest Litigations (PILs) filed against the tunnel project. He noted that petitioners had used the existing 1975 Act to challenge the project, and by changing the law, the government is effectively neutralizing those legal defenses.

Adding political weight to the controversy, Bengaluru South BJP MP L.S. Tejasvi Surya stated that the Twin Tunnel project would necessitate approximately 1.92 hectares (nearly five acres) of land from Lalbagh. He further highlighted that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) includes not just the tunnel shafts, but also commercial complexes and parking facilities around them.

BJP MP P.C. Mohan described the bill as a "dangerous assault" on the city's green cover, emphasizing that laws protecting heritage sites like Lalbagh should be strengthened rather than diluted. The political tension is high, with the BJP vowing to oppose the bill in the upcoming legislative sessions.

Historical Background

The Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) Act was enacted in 1975 to ensure that the city's vital green spaces remained untouched by rapid urbanization. For nearly five decades, this law has served as the primary shield for Bengaluru's botanical heritage, preventing the encroachment of residential and commercial developments into protected zones.

Did You Know?: The Twin Tunnel Road project is one of the most ambitious infrastructure undertakings in Bengaluru, aimed at reducing travel time between North and South Bengaluru.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the specific change in the new Bill?
The bill allows for 5% of existing park land to be repurposed for public infrastructure or development.

2. How does this affect Lalbagh?
If the bill passes and the tunnel project proceeds, Lalbagh could lose approximately 5 acres of land for tunnel shafts and associated commercial structures.