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CA
Civic Admin
19 Jan
Bengaluru
Save Kadugodi Forest: An Urgent Call to Defend Bengaluru’s Last Urban Green Lung
Date: 16/01/2026
To Shri Siddaramaiah Hon’ble Chief Minister Government of Karnataka Vidhana Soudha Bengaluru, Karnataka – 560001
@CMofKarnataka @osd_cmkarnataka @siddaramaiah
Subject: Urgent protection and restoration of Kadugodi Reserve Forest – a critical urban green lung
Respected Sir,
We write to you as concerned citizens and residents of Bengaluru regarding the rapidly deteriorating condition of the Kadugodi Reserve Forest in Whitefield, historically an extensive green forest area of 711 acres that has, over decades, been reduced drastically by encroachments and unauthorized land use.
Kadugodi Forest is one of the last significant urban forest patches remaining within the Bengaluru metropolitan area. This land is critical for:
- đŸŒ³purifying air and mitigating extreme pollution,
- đŸŒ³regulating urban heat and moderating floods,
- đŸŒ³supporting biodiversity and local ecology,
- đŸŒ³providing natural space for the health and well-being of residents.
Despite its ecological importance, and a recent Supreme Court directive (15 May 2025) that forest land recorded in Revenue records should be transferred to the Forest Department with prompt action against illegal transfers, a large portion remains threatened by construction, encroachment, and opaque allotments.
Field reports and citizen documentation show that most of the original forest land has been compromised by real estate and infrastructure pressures, with only a small portion currently maintained by the Forest Department. Construction activities continue near Whitefield despite legal obligations to protect this land.
In view of the above, we earnestly request your government to:
- 1⃣ Immediately implement the Supreme Court’s directive by transferring all 711 acres of Kadugodi Reserve Forest permanently to the Karnataka Forest Department.
- 2⃣ Cease all ongoing and planned constructions, encroachments, real estate allotments, and development work on recorded forest land within Kadugodi.
- 3⃣ Order a transparent investigation into illegal land transfers, encroachments, and environmental violations connected to this area.
- 4⃣ Restore and reforest the entire reserve area as protected urban forest, with ecological safeguards for future generations.
- 5⃣ Host public hearings and consultations with citizens, residents’ associations, and environmental organizations before any decision affecting forest land.
The future of Bengaluru’s green cover, air quality, flood resilience, and ecological balance depends on decisive action now. The people of this city urge your leadership to protect what remains of Kadugodi Forest and safeguard it as a living, breathing green space for all.
We look forward to your compassionate and urgent intervention.
Yours sincerely,
Civic Opposition of India
Citizen-led platform for urban governance and public accountability
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