Karnataka withdraws controversial parks bill, but tunnel road battle is far from over

The Karnataka Cabinet’s decision to withdraw the recently passed Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) Bill may have temporarily taken the heat off the Congress government, but it is unlikely to end the political battle over Bengaluru’s green spaces and the proposed tunnel road. The government passed the controversial parks bill in its previous Assembly session.

The decision, taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday, came days after growing public opposition to the amendment, which allowed up to five per cent of park land to be alienated for infrastructure and other public utility projects. The government faced mounting criticism that the provision could eventually be used to divert portions of Bengaluru’s iconic parks for large infrastructure projects.

The issue became a political fight between BJP and the Congress as well, after BJP MP Tejasvi Surya joined thousands of citizens in Lal Bagh last week, along with environmentalists and park walkers in a protest against the amendment as well as the proposed Hebbal-Central Silk Board twin tunnel road. Surya urged the government to abandon the tunnel project, while protesters argued that Lalbagh should not be treated as land available for infrastructure expansion.

For the BJP, the parks amendment has provided an opportunity to portray the Congress government’s infrastructure push as a threat to Bengaluru’s remaining green spaces. The proposed tunnel road, planned for a 17-km stretch between Hebbal and the Central Silk Board, has become the centrepiece of that campaign, particularly because it would pass beneath Lalbagh.

Deputy CM G. Parameshwara briefed the Cabinet decision to withdraw the park bill to reporters after the meeting today.

The Congress government, however, has maintained that the amendment was intended to facilitate public infrastructure and not private development. Shivakumar has also said he was open to suggestions and willing to revisit the issue following the protests.

The withdrawal could therefore be seen as a tactical retreat rather than the end of the proposal. The government could revisit the legislation and bring back a modified version in the future after consultations. That possibility will keep the political controversy alive.

Yesterday, CM D.K. Shivakumar said that the use of the Lalbagh space for public infrastructure was not new, as the BJP had done so for the metro project during its tenure.

Though temporarily withdrawing the park preservation amendment may give some respite to the government, it still faces criticism from the Opposition over the Bidadi project, the Valmiki development corporation scam, and the KPSC recruitment scam.