Police notices halt civic group’s walk to raise ‘awareness’ on impact of short tunnel

Published - September 06, 2026 06:41 pm IST - Bengaluru

View of Hebbal Lake in Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: File photo

Controversy has erupted over an alleged police restriction on an awareness walk titled “Protect our lakes and green spaces”, organised by a civic group and scheduled to be held at Hebbal Lake on Sunday morning. A portion of the lake land is expected to be acquired for the proposed short tunnel project between Hebbal and the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University.

While the group publicised the exercise as an awareness walk, the police allegedly sent notices stating that the civic forum was holding a protest walk from Dairy Science College to Hebbal Lake via Bhoopasandra Main Road. The notices said that, according to High Court directions, protests can be held only at Freedom Park and that any form of protest outside the said venue would attract action.

Interestingly, activists from across the city were among those who allegedly received the notices. The move came after a large gathering at Lalbagh last week for a walk protesting the proposed amendments to the Karnataka Parks (Preservation) (Amendment) Act, 1975, which drew thousands of participants.

Following the notices, the organisers called off the walk, citing the risk of violating High Court directions. However, a few people turned up at the venue on Sunday morning.

In a statement, the civic group said regular walkers and others who intended to join the walk found all entry gates to the Veterinary Sciences campus locked. “The veterinary hospital and dairy sciences gates had 10-12 police personnel deployed. Police were seen patrolling the premises and asking people why they were there,” the statement said.

“Though the event was not a protest but a small walk by concerned citizens, the police insisted that a large protest against the short tunnel project was being organised,” the group claimed.

However, a few people walked from the Veterinary Sciences campus to Hebbal Lake. “Citizens should not be discouraged or intimidated when they are merely engaging with civic issues and seeking to stay informed about the city,” the group said.

“It was disappointing that, as citizens, we were not allowed to hold a peaceful discussion on shrinking green spaces, even though the event was not intended to be a protest of any kind,” said Rahul, one of the participants.

Published - September 06, 2026 06:41 pm IST

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