The Karnataka Cabinet clearing a Bill to amend the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) Act, 1975, to allow 5% of parks and garden lands to be alienated for public purposes, drew severe criticism from citizen groups, environmentalists, and BJP MPs from the city. 

Reading the Amendment in the context of recent developments, environmentalists and citizens have alleged that the move is aimed at facilitating the 17.1-km Bengaluru North-South Twin Tunnel Road, which starts at Hebbal and ends at Central Silk Board Junction.

‘To defend case’

Dattatreya T. Devare, an environmental activist, said that laws were now being amended to defend the case against the tunnel project in the High Court of Karnataka, which is hearing a batch of three public interest litigations challenging the project.

“The petitioners have raised objections to the Tunnel Road project based on a review of the ambit of the existing laws, including the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) Act, 1975. Now this law is being amended. This move is purely to escape from the petitions against both the long and short tunnels,” Mr. Devare told The Hindu.

The Amendment is intended to accommodate the “sacrosanct projects” and could defeat whatever points the petitioners have raised, he said. He expressed concern that any opposition to the proposed projects is either being ignored or defeated through amendments, citing the recent reduction of buffer zones along drains to accommodate roads along the buffer zones.

The court, on July 16, directed the government that the fate of the Tunnel Road project would be dependent on the outcome of the court case. 

BJP MPs oppose

L.S. Tejasvi Surya, Bengaluru South BJP MP, took to social media and said the Tunnel Project would pass through Lalbagh and require around 1.92 hectares (nearly five acres) for the tunnel and shaft. The Detailed Project Report also proposes parking and a commercial complex around the shaft, he said.

“This move is clearly designed to facilitate projects such as the Tunnel Road by circumventing the proceedings before the Honourable High Court,” he said. In an open letter to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday, Mr. Surya said the State Cabinet’s decision could have serious implications for the city’s remaining green spaces.

P.C. Mohan, Bengaluru Central BJP MP, termed the Bill “a dangerous assault on Bengaluru’s green spaces.” “Laws protecting Lalbagh and Cubbon Park must be strengthened, not diluted to enable projects,” he said, announcing that the BJP will oppose this Bill. 

It is not yet clear whether the Bill will be tabled in the ongoing Karnataka Legislature Session.