Karnataka Cabinet Scraps Controversial Parks Bill, Approves New Overseas Affairs Department and Special Assembly Session

In a significant policy shift, the Karnataka State Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar took key decisions during its meeting on September 3, 2026, touching on urban governance, institutional restructuring, and legislative planning. Addressing intense public backlash and citizen protests, the Cabinet decided to withdraw the controversial Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The legislation, passed in the previous monsoon session, permitted the diversion of up to five percent of public park lands for infrastructure projects such as tunnel roads and civic utilities. Environment activists and opposition parties raised strong concerns regarding green spaces like Bengaluru’s historic Lalbagh. Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara announced that the government will place the proposed legislation in the public domain for consultations before introducing an amended draft in the next Assembly session. In another strategic decision, the Cabinet approved the establishment of the Department of Global Investment and Overseas Affairs. Operating under the Chief Minister, the department will function as a single-window mechanism to streamline foreign investment proposals, coordinate overseas delegations, and address the welfare and employment needs of Non-Resident Kannadigas (NRKs). Additionally, the state government constituted its first-ever 10-member Group of Ministers (GoM) on political affairs, headed by CM D. K. Shivakumar, to deliberate on sensitive policy matters prior to Cabinet discussions. The Cabinet also scheduled a three-day special legislative session from September 21 to September 23 to address the state's ongoing drought situation and the Kasturirangan report on the Western Ghats.