Recommendations sent to the Central Empowered Committee

To,
The Central Empowered Committee
II Floor, Chankaya Bhawan,
Chankayapuri, New Delhi-110021

Date: 17th September 2025

Subject: Recommendations for Consideration in the Kukrail Night Safari Case (W.P. (C) No. 1164/2023 — IA No. 89433/2025, 89434/2025)

Respected Members of the Central Empowered Committee,

We are writing to you in the context of the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s ongoing consideration of W.P. (C) No. 1164 of 2023 and the connected IA No. 89433/2025, IA No. 89434/2025, IA No. 89437/2025 relating to the proposed Kukrail Night Safari in Lucknow. As you have been directed by the Hon’ble Court to provide a detailed report on this matter, we wish to respectfully place before you certain concerns and recommendations for your consideration.

There Is No Earth B (TINEB) is a volunteer-driven climate collective that works on environmental awareness, citizen participation, and amplifying voices for ecological justice. Over the past months, we have been actively engaging the public on the Kukrail issue through fact-based social media campaigns, citizen outreach, and collaborative advocacy. A recent Twitter storm organized by TINEB reached over 93,000 impressions, amplifying diverse citizen voices opposed to the project.

The Kukrail Reserve Forest is ecologically unique. It houses the Gharial Rehabilitation Centre, supports diverse flora and fauna, and helps maintain the air quality and temperature balance of Lucknow city. The introduction of a large-scale night safari and zoo in this fragile landscape raises serious questions of legality, sustainability, and ecological prudence.

Our submission humbly seeks to draw your attention to:

1. Procedural and Legal Compliance

• By its interim order on the Forest Conservation Amendment Act 2023 dated [3 February 2025](https://www.downtoearth.org.in/forests/sc-orders-centre-states-to-refrain-from-steps-that-lead-to-reduction-of-forests), the Supreme Court directed the Centre and States to refrain from any steps that would reduce forest area unless equivalent compensatory land is provided.
• However, no compensatory land can truly replace a living, established forest ecosystem like Kukrail with its decades-old trees, layered biodiversity, and role as Lucknow’s natural climate regulator.
• The proposal for a night safari and zoo in Kukrail should clearly demonstrate how well-established principles of environmental law—such as the precautionary principle and the public trust doctrine—are not being violated.
• The citizens of Lucknow recognize Kukrail as an irreplaceable ecological and cultural asset. The integrity of Kukrail must be preserved in situ, not traded away for “compensatory” land or commercial spectacle.

2. Ecological Safeguards

• A comprehensive biodiversity survey (fauna, flora, ecosystem) must be conducted by an independent expert body before any clearance is considered.
• The [Kukrail Gharial Rehabilitation Centre](https://thebetterindia.com/56569/india-conserving-gharial-centre-kukrail/) is internationally recognized for reptile conservation. Any night safari project risks disturbance to captive breeding and nearby wild populations.
• The assessment by the CEC should include cumulative impacts—roads, traffic, lighting, and visitor load—not merely the core safari infrastructure.

3. Preservation and Accountability Measures

It is recommended that alternative sites outside the reserve forest be considered for any large-scale safari infrastructure, while retaining Kukrail purely for conservation. Regardless of whether the project proceeds, certain non-negotiable safeguards are owed to the people of Lucknow and to future generations:

• Clear plans for wildlife corridors and buffer zones to reduce habitat fragmentation must be prepared and approved prior to any activity.
• [Independent monitoring of animal welfare, given that night safaris are controversial for the stress they impose on animals.](https://sicb.org/extending-night-hours-at-zoos-how-are-animals-affected/)
• Clear plans outlining official responsibilities and legal liabilities in case of damage to the forest, wildlife, or connected ecological systems.
We humbly urge the Committee to do its utmost to highlight the numerous grave ecological threats posed by this proposal for night safaris in the Kukrail Reserve Forest. At a time when biodiversity is dwindling and forest spaces are shrinking across the country and the world, we believe it is of utmost importance to protect and preserve the remaining stretches of forest and wildlife habitat.

We thank you for your kind consideration and urgent attention to this matter. We would be happy to respond to any questions or provide any further information you may require.

Sincerely,
There Is No Earth B