Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government has proposed ₹207 crore in the 2026 state budget for the establishment of a Night Safari Park in the Kukrail forest area of Lucknow, marking a major push toward eco-tourism and wildlife conservation in the state.
Presenting the budget, Finance Minister Suresh Khanna highlighted the government’s continued focus on the forest and environment sector. He stated that since 2017, over 242.13 crore saplings have been planted across the state under large-scale afforestation drives. For the monsoon season of 2026, the government has set a new target of planting 35 crore saplings.
The minister noted that due to sustained plantation campaigns under the Yogi Adityanath government, Uttar Pradesh has secured the second position in the country in terms of increase in forest and tree cover.
Major Allocations for Forest and Environment
The budget proposes ₹800 crore for the Social Forestry Scheme, aimed at expanding green cover and promoting community participation in plantation efforts. Additionally, ₹220 crore has been earmarked for the Nursery Management Scheme and ₹189 crore for the State Compensatory Afforestation Scheme.
The proposed Night Safari Park in Kukrail is expected to become a major attraction, promoting wildlife awareness and sustainable tourism while generating local employment opportunities. Officials said the project would be developed with modern infrastructure while ensuring ecological balance in the forest area.
Support for Environmental Infrastructure
The Finance Minister also announced ₹50 crore for the creation of a corpus fund for the Ranipur Dam Foundation in Chitrakoot.
Further, the government is taking steps to establish facilities for hazardous waste disposal, common biomedical waste treatment, and e-waste recycling and treatment across the state to strengthen environmental protection mechanisms.
Under the World Bank-assisted Uttar Pradesh Clean Air Management Project, to be implemented from 2025–26 to 2030–31, ₹194 crore has been proposed in the budget. The multi-sectoral initiative aims to improve air quality through coordinated interventions across urban and industrial areas.
With significant allocations for afforestation, eco-tourism, waste management and air quality improvement, the state government has signaled a comprehensive approach toward environmental sustainability and green development in Uttar Pradesh.
