Citizen-led march in Lalbagh marks return of B'luru's civic movements

Bengaluru: Sunday’s massive demonstration at Lalbagh against the state government’s controversial move to sell or lease 5% of park space for infrastructure projects marked the return of large-scale citizen-led protests in Bengaluru after nearly a decade.The last major civic mobilisation was seen in October 2016 against the steel flyover, a project that was eventually shelved.The Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent high court order to allow protests only at Freedom Park had slowed down citizen-led movements with much of the outrage over city issues largely confined to social media and Whatsapp groups.Christopher D’Cruz, a resident of HRBR Layout, travelled about 12 km to join the ‘Walk for Lalbagh’ campaign on Sunday morning.“Lalbagh belongs to the people and not to the government. Ministers come and go but no government has the right to sell or lease away our parks. I was born and brought up in Bengaluru and it is heartbreaking to watch the city being slowly decimated,” D’Cruz said. “It may be 5% of the park this time. The next government may increase it to 10%. If we remain silent, the next generation will be left with nothing.”‘Save Lalbagh’ cry grows louder as thousands rally against Parks Amendment BillSome of the people who joined the demonstration include former high court judge Justice N Kumar, Padma Shri awardee Prof MK Sridhar, cardiac surgeon Dr Vivek Jawali, Dr Govindaiah Yatheesh, RJ Prithvi, Sudha Belawadi, Samyukta Hornad and Pranitha Subhash among others. Blind students and kids from Samarthanam Trust were also present.Other than the opposition to Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which allows the government to sell or lease parks for public infrastructure projects, some of the “protestors” raised their voice against the North-South tunnel road project proposed between Hebbal and Silk Board Junction through Lalbagh Botanical Garden.“Carving out a 20-km tunnel road at a depth of 120 feet right under Bengaluru’s lung space without any geological, environmental or hydrological assessment is a recipe for disaster. Rupturing underground water channels, rock formations and ancient fault lines will destabilise nearby high-rises and destroy our natural ecosystem,” veteran environmentalist A N Yellappa Reddy told DH.Bangalore South MP L S Tejasvi Surya said the fight against the tunnel road as well as 5% public park diversion law would continue until Chief Minister D K Shivakumar scrapped both these proposals.Citizens assemble at Lalbagh rock as part “Walk in Lalbagh Walk for Lalbagh” protest against the proposed tunnel road project and the recent amendment allowing up to 5% of park land to be diverted for infrastructure in Bengaluru on Sunday. Quote: “Bengaluru does not require a project which comes at the cost of losing a 266-year-old Lalbagh and a 3-billion-year-old National Geological Monument. The state government must understand this and put an end to this tunnel road madness.”- Tejasvi Surya, MP Bangalore SouthQuote: “We have been trying to protect and preserve our environment by cycling for the last 18 years sending out a message to everyone to save the environment. Now things are turning completely upside down. Opportunities are being created to destroy the very environment that remains. We cannot let that happen.”- Prabhakar Rao, Member Go Green Cycling Forum”Lalbagh is perso-nally very important to me and to all Bengalureans. Our request through this protest is that no construction should take place here. If we take away Lalbagh nothing will be left except concrete buildings.”- Pranitha Subhash, Actor”This isn’t about BJP Congress or any political party. Lalbagh belongs to Bengalureans. Governments will change but the ecological damage we create today will remain for generations.”- Samyukta Hornad, Actor”Kempe-gowda built Bengaluru with a vision. Today’s politicians have swallowed the lakes causing frequent flooding and now they are coming after the parks.”- Praveen Kumar Shetty, President KRV (Shetty faction)”It may be 5% of the park this time. The next government may increase it to 10%. If we remain silent the next generation will be left with nothing.”- Christopher D’Cruz, Resident HRBR Layout

Source: Deccan Herald