2 days ago
Bengaluru Residents Protest 5% Park Land Rule at Lalbagh
Hundreds of people went to Lalbagh in Bengaluru to protect the city’s parks.
They joined a campaign called “Walk in Lalbagh.
Walk for Lalbagh.”
They are worried about a new rule allowing some protected park land to be used for public utilities.
The rule permits 5% of protected city park land to be used this way.
It could affect 12 acres of Lalbagh and 15 acres of Cubbon Park.
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya said people support development but not at the cost of important city parks.
He also called for the tunnel project to be withdrawn.
The protesters said they would continue their campaign to protect Lalbagh and other open spaces.
Hundreds of Bengaluru residents gathered at Lalbagh on Sunday to protest a recent park-land amendment.
The campaign, “Walk in Lalbagh. Walk for Lalbagh,” called for protecting the city’s open spaces.
The Karnataka Assembly passed the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
The Bill allows 5% of protected city park land to be used for public utilities.
Under the Bill, 12 acres of Lalbagh and 15 acres of Cubbon Park could be used for public infrastructure.
- Who
- Hundreds of Bengaluru residents, joined by BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, participated in the protest.
- What
- They protested an amendment allowing 5% of protected park land to be used for public utilities.
- Where
- Lalbagh in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
- When
- The gathering took place on Sunday, after the Karnataka Assembly passed the amendment Bill in 2026.
- Why
- The protesters want to protect the city’s limited open spaces and oppose using parts of Lalbagh and other parks for infrastructure.
Park Protection Advocates
Public Infrastructure Provision
Use of protected park land
Park Protection Advocates
Residents and supporters of the campaign want the protected parks preserved and oppose allocating portions of them for infrastructure.
Public Infrastructure Provision
The amendment allows 5% of protected city park land to be used for public utilities, including the specified areas of Lalbagh and Cubbon Park.
Development and city spaces
Park Protection Advocates
Tejasvi Surya said development should not come at the cost of iconic city spaces and described Lalbagh as something that should not be divided.
Public Infrastructure Provision
The amended law creates a provision for using protected park land for public infrastructure, although the article does not provide statements from the government defending the change.
Key facts
- Campaign
- “Walk in Lalbagh. Walk for Lalbagh”
- Amendment
- Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) (Amendment) Bill, 2026
- Permitted use
- Up to 5% of protected city park land for public utilities
- Lalbagh land mentioned
- 12 acres
- Cubbon Park land mentioned
- 15 acres
- Protest demand
- Protect Lalbagh and other open spaces; withdraw the tunnel project
- Speaker quoted
- Bengaluru South BJP MP Tejasvi Surya
Quotes
Tejasvi Surya
Bengaluru South BJP MP who addressed reporters during the protest
“We are for development but not against the cost of iconic spaces of the city. Lalbagh is not a pizza to cut into slices. Our demand is to protect these parks from real estate and withdraw the tunnel project.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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