After backlash, Karnataka withdraws Parks Protection Bill

Karnataka government on Thursday decided to withdraw the Karnataka Parks Preservation Bill, during a Cabinet meeting. The move came amid strong opposition from the public and Opposition parties.Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara said in Bengaluru that a law had been brought to protect government parks. However, the Opposition parties did not come forward for a discussion on the issue. Instead, they have sent a wrong message to the public. "We have withdrawn the Bill and will inform the Governor about the decision. Subsequently, the Bill will be brought back for discussion in the next Assembly session," he said. 

#Karnataka #Breakinh

Government Withdraws Parks Amendment Bill, to Reintroduce It in Winter Session

Deputy Chief Minister @DrParameshwara said the Cabinet has decided to withdraw the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and reintroduce it during… pic.twitter.com/txPE1JPQnz

— Mahesh M Goudar (@IamMGoudar) September 3, 2026

Chief Minister's Legal Advisor and Congress MLA A.S. Ponnanna said the concerns surrounding the legislation have been taken seriously by the government. Ponnanna rejected claims that the amendment was intended to allow the government to take away or sell five per cent of park land for private purposes. He said the provision was aimed at avoiding the need to repeatedly bring amendments before the legislature whenever park land had to be utilised for a public project under compelling circumstances. "It is wrong to say that five per cent of park land will be utilised. Whenever public projects are implemented and there is a compelling situation requiring the utilisation of park land, the matter has traditionally been brought before the legislature and an amendment has been made," Ponnanna said.
Both the houses of the state legislature have passed the bill,along with the BMLTA (Amendment) Bill, amid the strong protest by the BJP and JD (S). The Congress government had also sent this Bill to the Governor's consent. The Karnataka Parks Preservation (Amendment) Bill had triggered widespread opposition after it was passed during the previous Assembly session. Critics had raised concerns over the provision allowing up to five per cent of park land to be utilised for public purposes, arguing that it could adversely affect Bengaluru's green spaces. 

#Lalbagh public protest against The Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) (Amendment) Bill, 2026 that allows govt to use up to 5% of any public park for infrastructure & utility projects. They launch postcard campaign @DKShivakumar@XpressBengaluru @AshwiniMS_TNIE pic.twitter.com/3wJhgSQeae

— Hirehalli Bhyraiah Devaraj (@swaraj76) August 30, 2026

Bengaluru's parks are widely regarded as the city's lungs, and environmentalists and citizens have expressed apprehension that allowing portions of park land to be diverted could gradually reduce the city's green cover. As per reports, both bills were seen by critics as attempts to ease legal hurdles for the contentious tunnel road project, proposed between Hebbal in north Bengaluru and Central Silk Board in South east.The project calls for around six acres of Lalbagh land temporarily and one acre permanently.

(State Correpondent)