Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, September 1, Shivakumar said he would call for the government files to examine why the provision was introduced and how park land had been dealt with by previous governments.
“I will examine why this proposal to allocate 5 per cent of park land came about, what the previous government did, and which land was given to whom. I will call for the files, and we can discuss this again in the Assembly.”
The Chief Minister said the amendment had been passed without a discussion in the legislature and offered to facilitate a fresh debate on the legislation. He also invited suggestions from the Opposition and members of the public.
“There was no discussion while passing the amendment to the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) Act. Now, they are staging a protest. Let them do it. I am ready to hold discussions on it. I know how they (BJP) also allotted parks and other lands. There’s no need for anyone to worry. I know how to protect park land,” he said.
The Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was passed by both Houses of the state legislature on August 24.
The amendment changes the 1975 law to permit the state “to alienate park land by way of sale, lease, gift, exchange, mortgage, or otherwise, up to an absolute limit of 5 per cent of the total area”.
The provision applies to parks and gardens under the horticulture department and allows portions of them to be used for infrastructure or utility projects. The legislation specifies that such projects “shall be considered as being in furtherance of public interest”.
Only government departments, statutory authorities, public sector companies and local authorities are permitted to use land under the provision. The government has maintained that the amendment is intended to facilitate public infrastructure rather than private development.
Environmental groups and citizen organisations, however, have raised concerns that allowing even a portion of protected green spaces to be alienated could make it easier to divert park land for development and infrastructure.
Lalbagh has emerged as the centre of the controversy because the proposed tunnel road project in Bengaluru is expected to require more than an acre of land from the botanical garden. Sources have said the amendment is intended to facilitate the project by removing legal hurdles around the use of park land.
The timing of the legislation has also drawn scrutiny. The Bill was passed a day after billionaire businessman Gautam Adani met Shivakumar. A company owned by Adani is expected to secure the contract for the Chief Minister's proposed tunnel road project.
The controversy culminated in the August 30 protest at Lalbagh, where thousands gathered under the banner “Walk in Lalbagh. Walk for Lalbagh”. Environmentalists, citizen groups and Bengaluru BJP leaders and MPs were among those opposing the amendment.
Shivakumar said the debate should also examine earlier instances of park and government land being diverted or allotted. He said he would make records available to establish what previous governments had done.
“Lalbagh land was used for a metro station. Why didn't anybody speak then? In Sadashivanagar, space inside a park was given to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) or some such organisation. Go see for yourself,” he said.
The Chief Minister said there was a “long list of such allotments” and that these would also be examined. He specifically referred to land that had been provided for various purposes in Bengaluru under earlier governments, including those led by the BJP.
“I will get the files and we can discuss the matter again in the Legislative Assembly,” he said.
Shivakumar also sought to assure citizens that the amendment would not mean the unchecked loss of Bengaluru's green spaces. He said the final decision would be based on what was in the larger public interest.
“No one needs to worry. I know how to protect the park land. The decision will be in public interest,” he said.
He said he was willing to consider recommendations from both the Opposition and citizens before deciding how to proceed with the amendment.
“I am open to the suggestions of the Opposition. I will also consider the suggestions of the public. My intention is not to create any confusion,” he said.
The government has also spoken of plans to expand Bengaluru's green cover through five proposed Lalbagh-like “lung spaces”. These include Turahalli Mini Forest, Thottikallu Falls, Nettigere, BM Kaval Forest Area, Basavanthara and Mandur–Jyotipura.
“The BJP didn't even create one park or lung space when in power,” Shivakumar said.
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