The Kukrail forest block of Lucknow serves as the lungs of State capital. Spread over an area of a little more than 5200 acres, home to the Kukrail picnic spot and the gharial breeding center, the area located on the edge of town, has been subject to intense and ever increasing anthropogenic pressure. Some areas had been occupied illegally.

Realizing the immense ecological services rendered by the last remaining significant patch of forest land in the vicinity of the State capital, the State Government decided to protect the area by building a perimeter wall around the entire forest block.

In year 2013, a project of Rs. 3408.73 Lakh was sanctioned by the State Government for building a 3 meter high wall of 38.07 k.m. along the perimeter of the Kukrail East and West forest blocks. Work on this massive forest conservation work was started in February, 2014 by the U.P. Rajkiya Nirman Nigam, the designate construction agency. Already, about 3 k.m. of the wall has been constructed. Many encroachments on the forest land have been removed. The forests adjoining the walled areas have started recovering to their old natural form.

Plans are now afoot to develop the existing facilities within the Kukrail area so that people visiting the picnic spot gain a better experience.