Bengaluru: Environmental groups, urban planners and citizen activists have begun mobilising against the govt move to allow up to 5% of parks and gardens to be used for other purposes.The state cabinet approved a bill to amend the Karnataka Govt Parks (Preservation) Act, 1975 to this effect.A coalition of organisations and citizens has written to chief minister DK Shivakumar, seeking withdrawal of the proposed amendment, arguing that parks cannot be treated as vacant land. They said green spaces play a crucial role in climate regulation, rainwater management, biodiversity, recreation and public health, and warned that their loss would have long-term environmental and social consequences.The groups have also cited research to highlight Bengaluru’s green-space deficit. A study on the city’s urban heat island effect found that green spaces are, on average, 2.2°C cooler than surrounding areas, with their cooling influence extending beyond park boundaries.Another study has found that nearly 28% of Bengaluru’s wards have either no park or only one park, raising concerns over unequal access to public green spaces, the petition explained, calling on the govt to protect the city’s remaining parks. The groups are also discussing protests and awareness campaigns if the amendment moves forward.A major concern among environmentalists is the possible precedent the amendment could set for projects involving Bengaluru’s larger green spaces, particularly Lalbagh. A proposed tunnel road project has already drawn criticism over the use of portions of Lalbagh for its related infrastructure. Activists fear that a legal provision permitting diversion of park land could make it easier for similar proposals to be considered in the future.Environmental groups have urged the govt to first explore alternatives that don’t involve existing parks and to make public consultation and comprehensive environmental, social, health and wellbeing assessments mandatory for projects affecting green spaces.The proposed amendment has been defended as a mechanism to facilitate essential public infrastructure while limiting the extent of land that can be used. Under the proposal, the 5% ceiling would apply to the total area of a park, while such land could be considered only for specified public purposes by govt departments, statutory authorities, state-owned companies and local authorities.Stakeholders speakOnce a general principle is introduced permitting portions of protected parks to be made available for infrastructure, what begins as an exception today can slowly become an administrative practice tomorrow: AN Yellappa Reddy, former secretary, department of forestsThis (amendment) is being brought to pre-empt a ruling by the high court and NGT against alienation of 6 acres of Lalbagh temporarily, and one acre permanently, for the Hebbal-Silk Board tunnel road. But this amendment will be used across Karnataka to reduce parks and open spaces and make people choke for air! Bengaluru has only about 3,000 acres of park space for 1.4 crore people, whereas it should have 30,000 acres, as per national benchmarks: Kathyayini Chamaraj, executive trustee, CIVICBengaluru already has a severe shortage of public green spaces, with neighbourhood parks serving as essential recreation areas. Instead of diluting protections, the govt should create more parks and ensure adequate green spaces in new developments: Vinod Jacob, co-founder, Environmental Impact GroupWe won’t allow our lung spaces to be sold. The cabinet’s decision appears to be aimed at facilitating projects such as the Lalbagh-Hebbal tunnel road and opening the door to commercialisation of spaces such as Cubbon Park. These are lung spaces, and activists won’t remain silent. We’ll oppose any attempt to push through the tunnel road or commercialise parks and gardens in any part of Bengaluru: Parvathi Srirama, state general secretary, Parisarakkagi NavuI urge the govt to identify other vacant land for commercial purposes and leave parks untouched. I strongly oppose commercialisation of parks: Alexander James, environmentalist
