FOR NIGHT SAFARI: Digital survey of land in Kukrail forest begins
The digital survey to determine the optimal utilisation of land in Kukrail forest for the planned night safari has been started, said a senior forest official.
It will be Uttar Pradesh’s first night safari and will promote eco-tourism and biodiversity conservation. The state government had recently in its supplementary budget allocated ₹60 lakh for construction work, ₹20 lakh for machinery and ₹10 lakh for other expenses.
Forest minister Arun Kumar Saxena in a recent review meeting said, “The night safari along with shifting of the zoo from Hazratganj to Kukrail should be done by the end of 2023. The digital survey for these works has been started.”
The digital survey of the land is being conducted so that the infrastructure developed here makes the most of the available land. From the entryway to the visitors’ gallery, to activity areas, all can be mapped on a digital map, followed by actual construction, said a senior forest official. At present, Kukrail is a popular picnic spot. It also has a Ghariyal breeding centre and a turtle research and rescue centre.
For the project, the Kukrail river will be channelised, and the road will be widened. The total area of the Kukrail forest is 2027.46 hectares. There is a proposal to develop a zoo and night safari on a 500-acre land.
