# Karnataka legislative updates on public assets and urban law

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/karnataka-legislative-regulatory-updates
> Updated: 2026-09-03T11:55:08.000Z. Sources: 15. Developments: 5.

The Karnataka government has implemented several legislative measures aimed at regulating public assets, urban governance, and infrastructure development. In mid-August, the Karnataka Cabinet approved the Karnataka Regulation of Use of Government Premises and Public Property Bill, 2026, to establish a legal framework for the use of state-maintained assets by private entities. Following this, the Karnataka Assembly passed the Karnataka Municipalities and Karnataka Municipal Corporations (Amendment) Bills, 2026, and the Karnataka Apartment (Ownership and Management) Bill, 2026.

Controversy intensified following the passage of the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) (Amendment) Bill, which allows the state to alienate up to 5% of protected parkland for public infrastructure and utility projects. On August 29, thousands of citizens marched at Bengaluru’s Lalbagh Botanical Garden to protest the amendment. Led by BJP MP Tejasvi Surya and Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, protesters alleged the law threatens the city’s green cover to facilitate projects like the proposed 17km Hebbal–Silk Board Twin Tunnel Road. Critics noted that the 5% diversion could result in the loss of approximately 12 acres in Lalbagh and nearly 10 acres in Cubbon Park, with some legal experts describing the lack of public consultation as a form of “dictatorship.”

In response to the significant public opposition, the Karnataka government announced on September 3 that it would withdraw the controversial Parks Preservation (Amendment) Bill. Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara stated the government intends to inform the Governor of the decision and plans to reintroduce the Bill in the next Assembly session after placing the proposal in the public domain to seek stakeholder opinions.

## Claims

- The new amendment allows the government to alienate up to 5% of the total area of any government park or garden in Karnataka for infrastructure or government purposes. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The 5% amendment to the Karnataka Parks Bill would result in the loss of approximately 12 acres of land in Lalbagh Botanical Garden. (single source)
- The Karnataka Legislative Assembly passed The Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, on August 24. (single source)
- More than 5,000 people participated in a citizens' march at Lalbagh to oppose the park land diversion bill. (single source)
- Legal expert Prashanth Mirle stated that the proposed Hebbal–Silk Board Twin Tunnel Road project is the primary motivation for the amendment bill. (single source)
- The amendment could result in the loss of 65 acres of green space across Bengaluru, including 9.85 acres in Cubbon Park. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-03: Karnataka government withdraws controversial Parks Preservation Bill

The Karnataka government is withdrawing the controversial Parks Preservation Amendment Bill following public protests. The Bill will be reworked and reintroduced in the next Assembly session.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/karnataka-government-withdraws-controversial-parks-preservation-bill

### 2026-08-29: Lalbagh protests erupt over Karnataka parkland diversion bill

Thousands marched in Bengaluru's Lalbagh to protest a new Karnataka law allowing the government to divert up to 5% of parkland for infrastructure projects like the Hebbal–Silk Board tunnel road.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lalbagh-protests-erupt-over-karnataka-parkland-diversion-bill

### 2026-08-26: Bengaluru residents protest Karnataka law allowing parkland use for infrastructure

The Karnataka government passed an amendment allowing up to 5% of protected parklands to be used for infrastructure, sparking protests in Bengaluru over the preservation of green spaces like Lalbagh.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bengaluru-residents-protest-karnataka-law-allowing-parkland-use-for-infrastructure

### 2026-08-21: Karnataka Assembly passes urban infrastructure and apartment management bills

The Karnataka Assembly passed bills to allow local authorities to take over poorly maintained private roads and to establish a legal framework for apartment ownership and management.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/karnataka-assembly-passes-urban-infrastructure-and-apartment-management-bills

### 2026-08-13: Karnataka Cabinet approves bill to regulate use of public property

The Karnataka Cabinet has approved a new bill to regulate the use of government premises and public property, requiring prior permission for activities on state-maintained lands and assets.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/karnataka-cabinet-approves-bill-to-regulate-use-of-public-property

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Cite as: Karnataka legislative updates on public assets and urban law. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/karnataka-legislative-regulatory-updates
