BENGALURU: The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday decided to withdraw the controversial Bill that allows up to 5% of government park and garden land to be used for public purposes, deputy chief minister G Parameshwara said.The government will now put the proposed legislation in the public domain, invite suggestions and reintroduce it with amendments in the next session, Parameshwara told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.“The Cabinet has decided to withdraw the Bill. We will withdraw it, put it in the public domain for discussion and reintroduce it in the next session, obviously with amendments,” he said.The Bill proposed an amendment to the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) Act, 1975, allowing alienation of up to 5% of park land for public utility and infrastructure projects.It provided for forms of alienation, including sale and lease, subject to the 5% ceiling and other safeguards.Parameshwara said the government had introduced the amendment in the previous session, but there had been little discussion on it, enabling the Opposition to create misconceptions about its purpose.He said the government would reconsider provisions in the Bill concerning lease, sale and gift and clarify them before introducing the legislation again.He also rejected the interpretation that the government was seeking to take 5% of Lalbagh itself or a fixed five-acre portion of the botanical garden for the tunnel road project.The decision comes following protests in Bengaluru against the amendment, particularly over concerns that it could facilitate the diversion of green spaces for infrastructure projects.Chief minister DK Shivakumar had earlier said he was open to suggestions from the Opposition and the public and would review the proposal.Parameshwara said the government would compile the suggestions received from the public, reconsider the contentious provisions and bring the legislation back in a different form in the next session.(With inputs from PTI)
