Supreme Court clears Kukrail Night Safari in U.P

The Supreme Court of India's decision on July 15, 2026, clears the deck for Uttar Pradesh’s highly anticipated Kukrail Night Safari and Zoological Park in Lucknow.

The ruling, delivered by a three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, marks a major legal victory for the U.P. government’s flagship eco-tourism initiative.

The Core Conflict: Commercial Tourism vs. Forest Conservation

The legal battle pitted the U.P. government's "first-of-its-kind" development vision against environmentalists' concerns over preserving reserve forests:

• The Petitioner’s Argument: Opposing counsel argued that launching a massive night safari in the 2,027-hectare Kukrail reserve forest would disturb the local ecology and amount to commercial exploitation of a protected forest zone.

• The State’s Defense: The U.P. government maintained that the current zoo in Lucknow—the century-old Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Park—is severely cramped, located in a dense urban area hostile to modern animal breeding and welfare. Shifting it to Kukrail allows for world-class conservation facilities.

Why the Supreme Court Greenlit the Project

In dismissing the petitioner’s objections, the Bench emphasized that ecological conservation and national development must coexist rather than stall each other.

"Should this country remain at a standstill? Zoos are old now."

— Chief Justice of India Surya Kant

The Court pointed out that modern wildlife management has evolved beyond traditional, cramped concrete cages. It highlighted that the project already secured crucial clearances from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

Strict Environmental Safeguards Mandated by the Court

To ensure the project does not degrade the reserve forest, the Supreme Court imposed a highly structured, legally binding supervisory framework:

• Preserved Green Cover: The state must maintain 71% of the designated 855-hectare project area as natural green cover.

• Eco-Restoration: The government is directed to minimize tree felling, utilize tree translocation, and systematically replace invasive plant species with native Indian flora.

• No Commercial "Amusement Zones": While the safari is approved, the court explicitly banned commercial "adventure zones" or amusement parks inside the reserve forest to protect its ecological integrity.

• Active Monitoring: A member secretary from the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) will periodically visit the site to monitor compliance, with a progress report due to the Court within three months.

• Statutory Clearances: The state must strictly obtain any pending permissions required under the Forest Conservation Act.