Bengaluru: The Karnataka Cabinet on Friday approved amendments to the Government Parks (Preservation) Act, 1975, that would allow portions of park and garden land to be transferred for specified public infrastructure and utility uses, officials said. The change permits up to 5 per cent of the total area of any government park or garden to be alienated by sale, lease, gift, exchange or mortgage for such purposes, according to the draft legislation made available to the press.
What the amendment proposes
The proposed law restricts eligible users of any alienated park land to government departments, statutory authorities, state-owned companies and local bodies. A high-level advisory committee chaired by an officer of additional chief secretary rank, and including domain experts, would be tasked with recommending any utilisation of park or garden land under the amended Act, sources said.
- Up to 5% of a park or garden’s area can be alienated for public infrastructure or utility projects.
- Only government/ statutory/ state-owned/ local authorities may use the alienated portions.
- A high-level committee, led by an additional chief secretary-ranked officer and expert members, will recommend utilisation.
Officials noted the amendment is aimed at creating a statutory route to temporarily or permanently allocate small parts of prominent green spaces for projects deemed in the public interest. The move directly affects well-known Bengaluru parks governed by the Act, including Lalbagh and Cubbon Park, which have long enjoyed protected status under the 1975 law.
Connection with the Hebbal–Central Silk Board tunnel project
Government sources indicated the amendment is significant in the context of the proposed 17-km tunnel road connecting Hebbal and the Central Silk Board area. According to those familiar with the project, the tunnel alignment requires about six acres of Lalbagh land on a temporary basis and roughly one acre permanently.
Opposition leaders have directly linked the legislative change to the tunnel proposal. They contend the amendment simplifies the legal pathway to allot park land for such large-scale infrastructure initiatives and could be used to bypass ongoing judicial scrutiny.
“The Congress Government in Karnataka has officially launched a war against our parks and green spaces,” Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya said, accusing the state administration of attempting to circumvent court proceedings on the tunnel project.
Political reaction and environmental concerns
BJP leaders criticised the Cabinet decision and announced plans to press their objections with senior state politicians. Party sources said they would approach the Chief Minister, the minister in charge of Greater Bengaluru development and other legislators to oppose the amendment.
Environmental advocates and urban planners have historically resisted reductions in contiguous park areas, citing biodiversity, urban heat-island mitigation, recreation and heritage preservation. The original Act of 1975 afforded strong protections to Bengaluru’s historic parks; altering that framework — even for small percentages — is likely to prompt scrutiny from conservation groups, citizens and the courts.
Checks and balances in the draft law
According to the Cabinet note, the proposed high-level committee is intended to introduce an expert vetting layer before any park land is alienated. The composition and functioning of this committee, including whether recommendations will be binding or advisory, will be outlined in the detailed rules to follow the bill’s passage, officials said.
| Aspect | Current Act (1975) | Proposed Amendment |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum land alienation | Effectively none for specified public projects | Up to 5% of park/garden area |
| Eligible users | Restricted; protections for public parks | Government departments, statutory authorities, state-owned companies, local authorities |
| Oversight | Provision under 1975 Act and judicial review | High-level committee chaired by an additional chief secretary-ranked officer |
Legal experts and civic activists are expected to review the exact text once the bill is published in full. The amendment will have to pass the state Assembly and receive the governor’s assent before any change to park land usage can be implemented.
With the Cabinet’s clearance now formalised, debate is likely to intensify in the coming days as stakeholders — from civic groups to opposition parties — assess the potential environmental and urban planning consequences of allowing limited use of protected green areas for infrastructure projects.
Prakash Gowda is the Karnataka correspondent reporting from Bengaluru.
