For Prelims: Central Empowered Committee (CEC), Forest Conservation Act, 1980, Full form of CEC, Nodal body, Project cost, Location, Current context
For Mains: Forest conservation vs development, judicial oversight, environmental compliance, SC-appointed committees
Source:
Indian Express
5 facts for one-day exams
SSC, railway, police and teaching exams ask direct questions like these.
- The CEC is the Central Empowered Committee, appointed by the Supreme Court of India.
- The Kukrail night safari project is located in Kukrail forest, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
- The estimated cost of the project is ₹1,510.57 crore.
- The Supreme Court rejected shifting the Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Park and building an adventure park.
- The CEC submitted its status report on October 27, 2026.
Why in the news?
The Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to comprehensively re-examine its ₹1,510.57 crore Kukrail night safari and zoological park project in Lucknow, citing visible disturbance to the forest floor and discrepancies in tree inventories. The project was allowed in July 2026 by the SC subject to strict conditions, but key components like shifting the Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Park and building an adventure park were rejected.
Summary
- The CEC found visible disturbance to undergrowth and forest floor, including soil-levelling, and discrepancies in trees inventoried for felling at the Kukrail site, even though the site had not been formally handed over by the Forest Department.
- The Supreme Court had permitted the project in July 2026 subject to conditions, but rejected the moving of the Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Park, building an adventure park, and widening of a road into four lanes.
- The CEC directed that all proposed components be examined for conformity with the Supreme Court's July 15 order and that no activity requiring statutory approval should commence without it.
Highlights
CEC Flags Forest Disturbance
The CEC found visible disturbance to undergrowth and forest floor, including soil-levelling, and discrepancies in tree inventories at the Kukrail site.
SC Conditions Not Fully Met
The CEC directed re-examination of the entire project for conformity with the Supreme Court's July 15 order and its own recommendations.
Key Components Already Rejected
The SC had rejected shifting the Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Park, building an adventure park, and widening a road into four lanes.
Background
The Kukrail night safari and zoological park project, estimated at ₹1,510.57 crore, is proposed in the Kukrail forest in northeastern Lucknow. The Uttar Pradesh government approached the Supreme Court in 2025 after an earlier court order prohibited setting up zoos or safaris in forest areas without its permission. In July 2026, the SC allowed the project subject to strict conditions and directed the CEC to conduct periodic inspections.
Key Analysis and Impact
The CEC's status report reveals that despite the SC's conditional approval, the project site showed visible disturbance to the forest floor and discrepancies in tree inventories, even before formal handover to the Public Works Department. This raises concerns about compliance with forest conservation norms. The CEC has not concluded any violation but has called for a comprehensive re-examination of plans, clearances, and approvals.
Way Forward
The Uttar Pradesh government must now decide within one week whether any amendment, modification, or additional approval is required in the DPR, master plan, environmental clearance, or other project documents. The revised DPR and Master Plan should be finalised only after re-examination of the project layout, tree inventory reconciliation, land boundary verification, and mapping of drainage channels and microhabitats.
Uttar Pradesh connection
Matters for these Uttar Pradesh exams:UPPSC 8/10
Background GK
Textbook concepts you need to understand this news
- Central Empowered Committee (CEC)
- A committee appointed by the Supreme Court of India to monitor compliance with its orders on forest and environmental matters.
- Forest Conservation Act, 1980
- An Act of Parliament that restricts the diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes and requires prior approval of the central government.
Facts to remember
Tap a card to see the answer. Try to recall it first.
How exams will ask this
- Data: ₹1,510.57 crore cost of Kukrail night safari project
- Nodal Body: Central Empowered Committee (CEC) - Supreme Court-appointed
- Legal Point: Supreme Court's July 15, 2026 order
Don't make this mistake!
Trap: Confusing the CEC (Central Empowered Committee, SC-appointed) with the CEC (Central Election Commission) or the CEE (Centre for Environment Education). Also, the project is a 'night safari and zoological park', not just a 'safari'.
Write these in mains answers
- Forest conservation vs development, judicial oversight, environmental compliance, SC-appointed committees
Stuck? Get it in one tap
The Supreme Court has a special committee called the CEC that checks if forest rules are being followed. The CEC visited the site of a big night safari project in Lucknow and found some digging and tree-counting problems. It has told the Uttar Pradesh government to re-check all its plans and approvals before moving forward.
- The CEC is the Central Empowered Committee, appointed by the Supreme Court of India.
- The Kukrail night safari project is located in Kukrail forest, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
- The estimated cost of the project is ₹1,510.57 crore.
- The Supreme Court rejected shifting the Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Park and building an adventure park.
- The CEC submitted its status report on October 27, 2026.
- Environment: Forest conservation and wildlife protection
- Polity: Judicial review and environmental governance
Related concepts: Central Empowered Committee (CEC), Forest Conservation Act, 1980
Practice questions
Pick an answer, then read the explanation.
- Q1Medium
Which body appointed the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) that monitors compliance with forest-related orders?
Explanation: The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) is a committee appointed by the Supreme Court of India to monitor compliance with its orders on forest and environmental matters. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is the nodal ministry for forest policy; the National Green Tribunal is a separate judicial forum; and the Central Zoo Authority regulates zoos.
- Q2Medium
Consider the following statements regarding the Kukrail night safari project:
- 1.The Supreme Court had completely banned the project in July 2026.
- 2.The CEC found visible disturbance to the forest floor at the project site.
- 3.The project is located in the Kukrail forest in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect because the Supreme Court allowed the project in July 2026 subject to strict conditions, not banned it. Statement 2 is correct as the CEC found visible disturbance to the undergrowth and forest floor. Statement 3 is correct as the project is proposed in the Kukrail forest in northeastern Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
- Q3Medium
What is the estimated cost of the Kukrail night safari and zoological park project?
Explanation: The estimated cost of the Kukrail night safari and zoological park project is ₹1,510.57 crore. ₹1,200 crore and ₹1,750 crore are incorrect figures.
- Q4Medium
What is the primary reason the CEC called for a comprehensive re-examination of the Kukrail night safari project?
Explanation: The CEC directed re-examination to ensure the project plans, clearances, and approvals conform with the Supreme Court's July 15 order and its own recommendations. Increasing budget, fast-tracking clearance, and transferring the project are not objectives of the CEC's directive.
Frequently asked questions
1. What is the Kukrail night safari project?
It is a proposed night safari and zoological park project in the Kukrail forest in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, estimated to cost ₹1,510.57 crore.
2. Why did the CEC order a re-examination of the project?
The CEC found visible disturbance to the forest floor and discrepancies in tree inventories at the site, and directed re-examination to ensure conformity with the Supreme Court's July 15, 2026 order.
3. Which components of the project were rejected by the Supreme Court?
The Supreme Court rejected the moving of the Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Park, building an adventure park, and widening of a road into four lanes.
4. What is the Central Empowered Committee (CEC)?
The CEC is a committee appointed by the Supreme Court of India to monitor compliance with its orders on forest and environmental matters.
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- Original5 November 2026 · Read story
