Bengaluru, 24 August (H.S.): The Karnataka Legislative Assembly passed eight major Bills within an hour on Monday, August 24, amid protests by BJP and JD(S) members demanding the resignation of Minister B. Nagendra over the alleged embezzlement of funds from the Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation.

The Bills were approved without debate as Opposition legislators entered the well of the House and raised slogans against the government. Nagendra has been chargesheeted in connection with the alleged financial irregularities.

Among the key legislation passed was the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) (Amendment) Bill, 2026. It permits the alienation of up to 5% of park land through sale, lease, gift, exchange or mortgage for public utility projects undertaken by government departments, statutory authorities, government-owned companies or local bodies.

The amendment is widely seen as facilitating major infrastructure projects, including the proposed 17.1-km Bengaluru North-South Twin Tunnel Road connecting Hebbal with Central Silk Board Junction. Critics fear that the legislation could allow portions of prominent green spaces, including Lalbagh Botanical Garden, to be used for infrastructure development.

The proposal has drawn opposition from citizen groups, environmentalists and BJP MPs representing Bengaluru.

The Bill provides for an evaluation committee headed by the Additional Chief Secretary, with designated officials and experts, to scrutinise proposals involving park and garden land before submitting recommendations to the government. The 5% limit will include land alienated earlier, while routine works undertaken by the Horticulture Department will be exempt.

It also permits limited use of horticulture farms for cold-storage facilities, post-processing units, improved crop production and agro-based industries benefiting farmers, provided the government records the necessity and public interest involved.

The government cited earlier instances in which land from Lalbagh, Cubbon Park and the Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Park was transferred for Metro construction, road widening and other public infrastructure projects.

During the proceedings, Opposition members accused the government of favouring industrialist Gautam Adani over the interests of Bengaluru residents. Adani had met Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar at his Bengaluru residence on Sunday.

Earlier, BJP legislators marched from Freedom Park towards Vidhana Soudha, demanding Nagendra's resignation.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman