NEW DELHI: Former bureaucrats have raised serious concerns regarding violations in the approval process for the construction of India's first urban night safari at the expansive 5,000-hectare Kukrail Night Safari in Lucknow.
In a letter to the Supreme Court's empowered Central Empowered Committee (CEC), they highlighted various infractions related to Environmental Clearance (EC), Forest Clearance, and compliance with the Central Zoo Authority's(CZA) Night Safari Guidelines 2025.
They are demanding that the Uttar Pradesh government submit a fresh detailed project report (DPR) along with new clearances.
On July 15, the Supreme Court permitted the Uttar Pradesh government to proceed with its ambitious night safari and zoological park project at the Kukrail Reserve Forest in Lucknow.
However, the Court rejected the proposal to relocate the Lucknow Zoo (covering 72 acres) to Kukrail and the plan to widen the road to four lanes through the forest.
The Court also granted permission for petitioners under the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act 2023 in WP1164 to bring the matter before the CEC to ensure that all regulations are followed.
Experts have noted that all previous approvals were for a composite project—encompassing both the zoo and the safari—which is no longer valid given the Court's ruling.
In their letter to the CEC, the petitioners asserted that the permissions granted by the CZA, the CEC, and the EC are incorrect and need to be reconsidered. They emphasized that all previous approvals, including those from the CZA, as well as the DPR, EC, forest clearance, and financial allocation, must be reviewed, as the project is now solely focused on the safari.
“Until the CZA has reviewed a fresh application for a Night Safari in the Kukrail Reserved Forest, no work on the project can commence,” stated Prakriti Srivatava, a former IFS officer and one of the petitioners.
Experts also pointed out that the DPR for the project is outdated; the previous DPR submitted in July 2024 covered a smaller area (493.73 acres), but the current area has expanded to 855.07 acres, necessitating a reassessment of the DPR.
Additionally, the environmental clearance granted for the composite project is no longer valid, so a new EC is required. “The environmental clearance granted on January 16 of this year is no longer applicable,” Srivatava noted.
Furthermore, the financial approval for the project has also become invalid. Many components of the project, such as the zoo relocation, road widening, and adventure park areas, have been cancelled, leaving only the night safari project to move forward. Consequently, the budget needs to be reviewed before any work can begin.
The letter also emphasized the need for a forest clearance (FC) for the project, given that the total project area of 855.07 acres falls within reserved forest land.