Karnataka Govt Withdraws Bill to Acquire Lalbagh Land
Briefing mediapersons after the Cabinet meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Dr G. Parameshwar said the Governor would be informed about the withdrawal of the Bill.
Bengaluru: The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday withdrew the Karnataka Parks Conservation Amendment Bill, that aimed at taking five per cent of land of the renowned Lalbagh for a road tunnel project. The Bill was passed in the Assembly without debate, with the Opposition refusing to take part in it. The Bill was awaiting approval from Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot.
Briefing mediapersons after the Cabinet meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Dr G. Parameshwar said the Governor would be informed about the withdrawal of the Bill. He said it would be re-introduced in the next Assembly session with amendments. The Opposition did not participate in the discussions preceding the passage of the Bill.
“They could have offered their suggestions on the Bill,” Parameshwar said, referring to the Opposition parties. “Instead of taking part in the discussion, the Opposition parties misled the public on the Bill and created an impression that it was intended to grab parks land,” he said. “They misled the public for their political gains.”
The Bill, he said, wanted to use five per cent of the land belonging to Lalbagh Botanical Gardens in Bengaluru for the government-proposed road tunnel project and in two more places but no discussion could take place on it.
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar stated: “Our government has always respected the sentiments of the people of Karnataka. The Cabinet’s decision to withdraw the Karnataka Parks Conservation Amendment Bill is also a reflection of this commitment to the people.” He added: “In a democracy, the people are ultimate judges. It is the resolve of our government to honestly place our intentions before the court of public opinion and move forward with people’s trust.”
BJP Lok Sabha member Tejasvi Surya thanked Shivakumar for respecting public opinion and deciding to withdraw the “draconian” Bill. He asserted “The fight is not over until the disastrous road tunnel project is officially scrapped.”
Surya asked the state government to also withdraw the amended Karnataka Tank Conservation Act, reducing the lake buffer zone from 30-metres to just three metres to facilitate the short tunnel project at Hebbal lake.