Citizens Form Human Chain at Lal Bagh to Oppose Move on Bengaluru Parks

More than 200 citizens, resident groups, environmental organisations, and civil society members formed a human chain at Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens on Thursday to protest a proposed state government amendment to the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) Act, 1975.

The proposed amendment would allow portions of parks and gardens across the city to be allocated for concrete-heavy infrastructure projects. In response, the participating groups submitted a formal letter to the Chief Minister demanding complete protection for Bengaluru’s existing parks and green spaces, urging the government to immediately roll back its decision.

Civic activists argued that the amendment directly contradicts the purpose of the legislation. Kathyayini Chamaraj, Executive Trustee at CIVIC, pointed out that the 1975 Act was established specifically to protect green spaces. She noted that bringing an amendment to alienate 5 percent of parks goes against the core objective of the parent Act.

Environmental advocates also raised alarms over the rapid depletion of the city's green canopy over recent decades. Sandeep Anirudhan, Founder of Conscious Communities, termed the move another blow to Bengaluru's ecological health. He noted that while a healthy urban area requires at least 30 percent green cover, Bengaluru’s green cover has plunged from nearly 70 percent five decades ago to approximately 2 to 3 percent today. He stated that the government appears to be prioritising real estate and infrastructure interests over environmental safeguards and public interest.

Greenpeace India, which organised the demonstration, highlighted that Bengaluru is growing hotter and increasingly vulnerable to climate change. The organisation warned that the government's current direction makes it easier to dismantle the city's critical natural infrastructure at a time when climate resilience is urgently needed.