Karnataka Cabinet Withdraws Parks Amendment Bill Amid Protests
Karnataka withdraws parks Bill after protests; FSSAI seizes expired infant food; RPF tackles trespassing and recovers lost valuables.
The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday decided to withdraw the controversial Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The proposed legislation, which would have permitted the alienation of up to five percent of park and garden land for public infrastructure projects, faced intense opposition from environmental groups, civil society organisations, and political leaders.
The decision to withdraw the Bill comes after it was passed without discussion during the Monsoon Session. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had earlier indicated that the proposal could be revisited. The government has stated that the Bill will be opened for public discussion before any potential reintroduction in the next legislature session. The Governor will be informed of the Cabinet's decision.
In a separate development, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has taken legal action against Bengaluru-based British Life Sciences Private Limited for violations of food safety standards in its infant food products. As part of an enforcement drive, officials ordered the destruction of approximately 3.7 metric tonnes of expired infant food articles, following court directions. The stock was safely disposed of to prevent its re-entry into the food chain. British Life Sciences, a subsidiary of British Biologicals, specialises in maternal and child nutrition.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition R. Ashok has criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the condition of government schools. His remarks follow an incident in Bagalkot where a portion of a school ceiling collapsed on students. In a social media post, Mr. Ashok challenged Mr. Gandhi to hold his 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' initiative at the affected school, highlighting the infrastructure failure.
In Bengaluru, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) registered 2,311 cases of trespassing on railway tracks over the past two months, collecting ₹11.57 lakh in fines. The drive aims to prevent unauthorised entry and enhance passenger safety. Trespassing is an offence under Section 147 of the Railways Act, 1989.
In a positive development, RPF personnel at Krantivira Sangoli Rayanna Bengaluru Railway Station recovered a passenger's bag containing gold ornaments, a laptop, and cash valued at over ₹29 lakh. The passenger, Santosh, had inadvertently left the bag in coach B3 of Train No. 16316 while deboarding at K.R. Puram on August 30.