Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday, 6 August inaugurated the 220th Flower Show at the historic Lalbagh Botanical Garden in Bengaluru, and announced that the state government is exploring the development of three new parks modelled on Lalbagh to expand the city's green cover and recreational infrastructure.

Key Developments

The flower show, themed 'Glory of the Ganga Empire', was organised as part of Independence Day celebrations and is scheduled to run for 10 days. Speaking to the media after the inauguration, Shivakumar outlined plans to build one of the proposed parks on Defence Ministry land within Bengaluru, for which the state has already written to the Centre seeking formal permission.

'We intend to develop a park similar to Lalbagh on Defence land in Bengaluru. The land will continue to remain with the Defence Department, but we have sought permission to develop a public park there. I will soon meet the Defence Minister regarding this proposal. The Prime Minister had earlier permitted a similar park to be developed on Defence land in Varanasi,' Shivakumar said.

What the Government Said

A second large park is being planned on forest land within Bengaluru, subject to discussions with Forest Department officials. The Chief Minister indicated that agencies including the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), and the Horticulture Department are being considered to lead the development.

'Our government's priority is to preserve Bengaluru's greenery and improve the quality of life for its citizens,' Shivakumar said. He described Lalbagh as more than a botanical garden, calling it a symbol of Karnataka's history and culture — established by Hyder Ali, expanded during the British era, and now stewarded by the state government.

The Flower Show's Theme

This year's floral exhibition draws on the legacy of the Ganga Empire of South India, recreating its history, culture, and agrarian traditions through elaborate flower displays. 'The lakes built during the Ganga period continue to serve society even today. Their legacy reflects equality, agriculture and the struggles of farmers. The exhibition celebrates our culture, farming heritage and art,' the Chief Minister said. He urged youth, women, senior citizens, and families across Karnataka to attend the 10-day event.

Farmer-Government Partnership Announced

Shivakumar also revealed that a new farmer-government partnership initiative will be unveiled on 15 August as part of the government's first 100-day agenda. The programme is designed to increase green cover while simultaneously improving farmer livelihoods, he said.

Congress Internal Discord Dismissed

Responding to questions about his recent meetings with senior Congress leaders following the Cabinet expansion, Shivakumar dismissed reports of internal friction. He noted that while the party has 140 MLAs and 40 Legislative Council members, only 33 ministerial positions are available. 'Every one of our legislators is qualified to become a minister, and we cannot say their aspirations are wrong. All of them worked together to bring the Congress party to power, and everyone must continue to work unitedly,' he said. The government is expected to formally announce its green initiatives and the farmer partnership scheme on Independence Day.