Bengaluru’s Green Crisis: Minister Demands More Parks Like Lal Bagh, Cubbon

Karnataka’s Forest and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre, speaking at the inaugural conference of the Karnataka Forest, Wildlife, and Climate Change Foundation on August 12, 2025, stressed the urgent need for more green spaces in Bengaluru, akin to the iconic Lal Bagh and Cubbon Park. Highlighting that no major park has been developed in the city in over 150 years, Khandre underscored the dire environmental situation, with Bengaluru’s 1.5 crore population facing a severe shortage of trees—currently one tree for every seven people, against the ideal of seven trees per person.

Addressing the impacts of climate change and global warming, Khandre called for a public-private partnership to bolster the city’s green cover and prevent it from deteriorating into a "gas chamber" like Delhi. He revealed plans for a 153-acre biodiversity park at Madappanahalli near Yelahanka, estimated at Rs 250 crore, urging corporate institutions to contribute through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Corporate Environmental Responsibility (CER) funds. The proposed park site, originally allocated to HMT in the 1960s, is currently under legal reclamation for this purpose.

Khandre emphasized the Congress-led state government’s commitment to sustainable development, balancing modernization with environmental protection. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Meenakshi Negi echoed the need for effective utilization of corporate funds to enhance forests and wildlife. The event saw participation from notable figures like cricketer Anil Kumble, philanthropist Rohini Nilekani, and musician Ricky Kej, amplifying the call for collective action to secure Bengaluru’s environmental future.

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