Karnataka Cabinet withdraws controversial parks bill amid widespread public opposition

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Sep 3, 2026: The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday decided to withdraw the controversial Parks Bill following strong opposition from citizens, environmental activists and the public.

Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara said the Bill would now be placed in the public domain for wider discussion and would be reintroduced during the next Assembly session.

“We have decided to withdraw the Bill for now, put it in the public domain, allow it to be discussed, and reintroduce it again. We’ll reintroduce the Bill in the next session,” Parameshwara told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

He also criticised the Opposition BJP, alleging that its members had not raised objections or held a detailed discussion on the Bill in the Assembly, but instead used the issue for political purposes and created misconceptions among the public.

Parameshwara said the government had proposed amendments to the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) Act, including a provision allowing up to five per cent of park land to be acquired for public infrastructure and utility projects.

The decision came a day after Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar said the legislation would be “revisited” in view of the growing criticism.

The Bill, which amended the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) Act, was passed by the Assembly on August 24 without debate.

Under the proposed amendment, up to five per cent of the total area of any park or garden under the Horticulture Department could be alienated for infrastructure or utility projects, with such use deemed to be in the “public interest”.

Citizens’ Protest

The Cabinet’s decision followed widespread protests against the Bill. On Sunday, thousands of citizens, environmental activists, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and public figures gathered at Lalbagh Botanical Garden in Bengaluru, demanding that the government withdraw the legislation.

Protesters warned that the amendment could pave the way for the loss of Bengaluru’s valuable green spaces. They submitted handwritten postcards urging the government to abandon proposals for a tunnel road shaft, a multi-level parking facility and commercial structures, while also demanding that Lalbagh be declared a “Construction Free Zone”.

The protesters stressed that their opposition was not against development itself, but against the choice of Lalbagh as a location for infrastructure projects.

They also gathered near Lalbagh’s ancient Peninsular Gneiss rock, expressing concern that underground drilling, tunnelling and the use of heavy machinery could damage the geological formation and affect the park’s ecosystem.