"Supreme Court Panel Urged to Halt Kukrail Night Safari Over Clearance Gaps"
Central Empowered Committee (CEC)
Supreme Court-constituted body monitoring compliance with court orders on forest and wildlife matters.
Central Zoo Authority (CZA)
Statutory body under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, regulating zoo standards and approving master layout plans.
India's forest governance rests on a layered statutory framework. The Forest Conservation Act, 1980 (FCA) requires prior central approval before any forest land is diverted for non-forest use. The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (WPA) governs national parks, sanctuaries, and zoos, while the Environment Protection Act, 1986 provides the basis for environmental clearances through the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process. Zoos in India are additionally regulated by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA), a statutory body under the WPA, which sets standards for zoo design, animal welfare, and master layout plans.
The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) is a Supreme Court-constituted body that monitors compliance with court orders on forest and wildlife matters. It was established following directions in the T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India case. The CEC functions as an investigative and advisory arm of the apex court. Its recommendations carry significant weight: the Supreme Court routinely acts on CEC findings when deciding forest diversion and wildlife-related disputes.
A critical amendment to this framework came through the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2023, which explicitly classified zoos and safaris as "forestry activities." This classification allows such projects to be set up on forest land without treating them as forest diversions in the traditional sense. This amendment itself is under legal challenge, with petitioners arguing it dilutes the protective intent of the original 1980 Act.
The Kukrail Night Safari and Zoological Park is proposed over 855.07 acres of reserved forest land in the northeastern part of Lucknow. The project is estimated to cost Rs 1,510.57 crore and is structured in two phases: a night safari in Phase 1 and a day zoo in Phase 2, along with ecotourism components. It has been described as India's first urban night safari.
The core legal dispute centres on a mismatch between the project as originally approved and the project as currently proposed. The original composite proposal included relocating the Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Park, setting up an adventure park, and widening a road. The CEC rejected these components. The Supreme Court then allowed the project to proceed based on the CEC's modified recommendations. However, petitioners now argue that the CZA approval and the environmental clearance were granted to the original composite project, not the stripped-down version. …
Consider the following statements :
1.The definition of "Critical Wildlife Habitat" is incorporated in the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
2.For the first time in India, Baigas have been given Habitat Rights.
3.Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change officially decides and declares Habitat Rights for Primitive and Vulnerable Tribal Groups in any part of India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements:
1.Animal Welfare Board of India is established under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
2.National Tiger Conservation Authority is a statutory body.
3.National Ganga River Basin Authority is chaired by the Prime Minister.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Achieving sustainable growth with emphasis on environmental protection could come into conflict with poor people's needs in a country like India. Comment.
Consider the following statements regarding the Central Empowered Committee (CEC):
1.It is a statutory body established under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
2.It was constituted by the Supreme Court in the context of the T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad case.
3.Its recommendations are binding on state governments without further Supreme Court approval.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements regarding the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2023:
1.It classifies zoos and safaris as forestry activities.
2.It exempts linear infrastructure projects within 100 km of international borders from prior forest clearance.
3.It repeals the requirement for central government approval before diversion of forest land for any purpose.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Match the following regulatory bodies with their parent statutes:
List I (Body) — List II (Parent Statute)
A.Central Zoo Authority — 1. Environment Protection Act, 1986
B.National Tiger Conservation Authority — 2. Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
C.Animal Welfare Board of India — 3. Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960
D.Central Pollution Control Board — 4. Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
Select the correct answer:
With reference to Environmental Clearance (EC) in India, consider the following statements:
1.An EC granted to a project remains valid even if the project area is substantially expanded beyond what was assessed in the original EIA.
2.A material change in project scope or design requires a fresh environmental appraisal under the EIA framework.
3.The State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) can grant EC for projects that require forest clearance under the Forest Conservation Act.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements regarding the Central Zoo Authority (CZA):
1.It is established under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
2.No zoo in India can operate without recognition from the CZA.
3.The CZA's approval of a master layout plan for a zoo is sufficient to authorise construction on reserved forest land without any additional clearance.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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