Opposition to Bengaluru’s new international cricket stadium is growing

File photo of farmers protesting against the newly created Phase 4 of Suryanagar by Karnataka Housing Board which borders the Bannerghatta National Park at Anekal in Bengaluru city. | Photo credit: K. MURALI KUMAR

City advocate Umapathi S. has filed a complaint with the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Conservation Officer, State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and Additional Director General of Forests (Wildlife) Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, International Climate Change Stadium (SurposMoEFana) Phase 4 at Anekal taluk, South East outskirts of Bengaluru.

“In the larger public interest, to urgently bring to the notice of the conservation and environment authorities about the serious and ongoing environmental violation by the Karnataka Housing Board – replacing a quiet residential area with an 80,000 seater International Cricket Stadium, located just 1012 meters from the Bannerghatta National Park, without any fresh environmental clearance or nature assessment.

He pointed to various violations and the Karnataka Housing Board’s (KHB) stop work order restricting all activities and cancellation of the Wildlife NOC issued by the KHB for the residential township – because the KHB had misrepresented the purpose of the project and the NOC does not apply, in law or in fact, to a commercial cricket stadium.

He also urged the KHB to apply for a new NOC for the wildlife and forest impact assessment department, specifically for the 80,000-seater cricket stadium at a distance of 1,012 to 1,407 meters from the BNP, including acoustic, light, traffic and habitat impact assessments.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will lay the foundation stone of the stadium on May 23.

Published – 22 May 2026 22:53 IST