Not 5%, not even an inch: Bengaluru citizens demand rollback of amendment to alienate park land

Not 5%, not even an inch: Bengaluru citizens demand rollback of amendment to alienate park land The coalition has demanded that the amendment be withdrawn and that existing parks and gardens be protected from diversion, conversion, fragmentation or construction for non-park and non-ecological uses.

Key points

• Over 200 citizens form a human chain around Lalbagh Rock to demonstrate that Bengaluru's green spaces are public assets that must be protected.
• The law, the Administration Parks (Preservation) Act, 1975, is for preserving parks.
• Yellappa Reddy urges Karnataka Chief Secretary to drop proposed 5% park land provision.
• Park Bill: Move aimed at facilitating takeover of Lalbagh land for Tunnel Road, say environmentalists, city BJP MPs.
• Opposition to amend Park Act grows as writers urge repeal, Karandlaje writes to Governor.

Over 200 citizens form a human chain around Lalbagh Rock to demonstrate that Bengaluru's green spaces are public assets that must be protected. Photo Credit: Special arrangement.

For context, the opposition to Karnataka's move to allow the alienation of up to 5% of park for public infrastructure projects brought together more than 200 citizens, resident associations and civil society groups at Lalbagh on Thursday (August 27, 2026). This person have requested Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to roll back the amendment.

Under the banner "Not 5%, Not one inch. Leave our parks alone", the coalition remarked Bengaluru. It is already grappling with shrinking green cover, rising temperatures and uneven access to public parks, could not afford to lose even a portion of its existing green spaces.

As part of the resistance, a human chain was formed around Lalbagh Rock to demonstrate that Bengaluru's green spaces are public assets that must be protected. The group has additionally submitted a letter to the Chief Minister opposing the Bill.

In their letter, the groups resisted the amendment to the Karnataka Administration Parks (Preservation) Act, 1975, arguing that the move went against the particularly purpose of the parent legislation.

"The law, the Administration Parks (Preservation) Act, 1975, is for preserving parks. The administration cannot bring an amendment to alienate 5% of the park. It goes against the highly objective of the parent Act, " noted Kathyayini Chamaraj, Executive Trustee of CIVIC.

It has additionally sought a requirement that all infrastructure projects first explore alternatives that do not involve the apply of existing parks or green spaces. The groups have pressed transparent public consultation before any proposal affecting public green space is considered, and for comprehensive environmental, social, health and wellbeing assessments of such proposals.

For context, the coalition has additionally demanded that parks and urban green spaces be formally recognised as essential infrastructure within urban planning and development frameworks. Photo Credit: Special arrangement. 'Environmental safeguard, not surplus land'.

For context, the groups remarked parks were not vacant land, but essential public infrastructure providing climate regulation, rainwater management, biodiversity, recreation and spaces for social interaction and everyday wellbeing.

"Bengaluru is becoming hotter and more climate vulnerable, yet the Karnataka administration is making it easier to take away one of the city's most notable forms of natural infrastructure. Parks support cool neighbourhoods and provide residents with relief from heat and pollution. At a time when the city needs more climate resilience, allowing even portions of these spaces to be diverted is a step in the wrong direction, " remarked Selomi Garnaik, Climate and Energy campaigner at Greenpeace India.

She remarked the administration must stop treating public green space as surplus land and recognise it instead as an essential environmental safeguard. Treat parks as essential infrastructure.

Citing research, the coalition remarked Bengaluru's urban green spaces play a critical role in protecting the city from heat. A study of 262 urban green spaces discovered that parks were, on average, 2.23-degree Celsius cooler than their surroundings, with their cooling effect extending up to 347 metres beyond their boundaries, the group pointed out.

Access to parks is already uneven, the letter pointed out. Research by the Indian Institute for Human Settlements has discovered that almost 28% of Bengaluru's wards have either no park or only one park. Any further reduction in public green space, the groups remarked, would deepen this deficit, particularly for communities that depend most on accessible public spaces.

"We recognise the need for essential infrastructure in Bengaluru. Nevertheless, infrastructure development must not come at the cost of existing ecological and social infrastructure. The environmental, health, social and wellbeing costs of losing public green space must be considered alongside the financial and developmental value of proposed projects, " the letter remarked.

Day after Gautam Adani meets D.K. Shivakumar, Karnataka administration amends two laws to clear legal hurdles for tunnel road project.

Taken together, the developments around not 5%, not even an inch: Bengaluru citizens demand rollback of amendment point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.