Tejasvi Surya opposes Karnataka's move to allow diversion of park land, saying Lalbagh and other green spaces must not be treated as real estate assets (File photo).Days after the Karnataka Cabinet approved a Bill to amend the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) Act, 1975, allowing up to 5 per cent of public park land to be diverted for public infrastructure, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya and former senior forest officials strongly condemned the move, alleging it exists solely to facilitate real estate and commercial development.The controversy comes as Lalbagh Botanical Garden, one of Bengaluru’s historic landmarks and premier green spaces, faces potential impact from a proposed tunnel road project connecting Hebbal to the Central Silk Board. The state government seeks to permanently acquire one acre of land in Lalbagh and temporarily utilise another six acres during construction.Criticising the Cabinet’s decision on X, Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya warned Sunday that green spaces must not be sacrificed for commercial interests.“The Cabinet’s decision to amend the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) Act, 1975, reportedly allowing the diversion of up to 5 per cent of park land, is deeply concerning,” Surya stated.“Our parks are not real estate assets. They are vital public, ecological, and intergenerational assets that must be protected. Lalbagh, Cubbon Park, and thousands of other parks must remain protected, not opened up for commercial or real estate projects. This move is clearly designed to facilitate projects such as the Tunnel Road by circumventing proceedings before the Hon’ble High Court.”Surya urged the government to reconsider the amendment, demanding strict safeguards, comprehensive environmental impact assessments, and public consultation before diverting any protected land.Also Read | In PM Modi’s footsteps, Shivakumar eyes defence land for new Bengaluru gardenEchoing these concerns, A N Yellappa Reddy, a retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer and former secretary of the Department of Forests, Ecology, and Environment, Sunday sent a letter to Karnataka Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, questioning the scientific basis of the threshold.Story continues below this ad“Five per cent itself requires an explanation,” Reddy wrote. “Who arrived at this figure? Was it recommended by horticulturists, ecologists, planners, or any independent expert body? Is there a scientific study showing that 5 per cent of an established park can be disturbed without affecting its ecological character? Lalbagh cannot be measured merely in acres and percentages. Its ancient trees, soil, water systems, biodiversity, and horticultural heritage have developed together over generations. Damage to a critical portion cannot be justified simply because the numerical percentage appears small.”Reddy warned that this practice sets a dangerous precedent for Bengaluru’s urban ecology.“Today it is 5 per cent. Tomorrow somebody may find a justification for 10 per cent, 20 per cnet, or even 50 per cent. Once we accept the principle that a protected park can be measured in percentages available for diversion, we have already crossed the line,” Reddy added.“Lalbagh and Cubbon Park are not commodities. This is not a supermarket where public assets can be offered at a 5 per cent discount today and a larger discount tomorrow. Nature cannot be negotiated in percentages.”