The Karnataka Cabinet has recently approved a significant amendment to the Government Parks (Preservation) Act, 1975, a move that will allow up to five percent of the state's designated park and garden land to be utilized for public infrastructure and utility projects. This pivotal decision, reported around August 22-23, 2026, signals a notable shift in the management of urban green spaces across Karnataka, with particular implications for Bengaluru, home to iconic parks such as Cubbon Park and Lalbagh.
The proposed amendment enables the alienation of these land parcels through various mechanisms including sale, lease, gift, exchange, or mortgage, exclusively for predefined public purposes. Eligibility to acquire such land for infrastructure development will be restricted to government departments, statutory bodies, state-owned companies, and local authorities.
This development has quickly ignited considerable debate and opposition. Critics, including BJP leaders like Tejasvi Surya and environmental advocates such as Yellappa Reddy, have voiced strong concerns regarding the potential impact on Bengaluru's already dwindling green cover. They argue that diverting even a small percentage of park land could establish a precarious precedent and exacerbate existing environmental challenges in the rapidly urbanizing state capital. The timing of this decision is particularly significant given ongoing plans for major infrastructure endeavors, such as Bengaluru's proposed 17-kilometer tunnel road, which is reportedly projected to temporarily require six acres and permanently one acre of Lalbagh land. To oversee these proposals, a high-level committee, led by an Additional Chief Secretary-rank officer, is slated to be formed to rigorously evaluate all applications for park land use, ensuring strict adherence to the stipulated five percent limit.
