Guwahati: Overriding objections from peasants’ groups and environmental activists, the Assam government forged ahead on Saturday with plans to build a five-star hotel in the vicinity of Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The government signed an MoU with Tata Group subsidiaries to develop a luxury resort and spa in the protected area.
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The MoU, signed between Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC), Amalgamated Plantations Private Limited (APPL), and Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), aims to develop a Taj Resort and Spa with an investment of Rs 120 crore.
The project, which has been met with resistance from several organizations and local communities, claims to generate around 200 direct employment opportunities.
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Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who was present at the signing ceremony, hailed the project as a “game changer” for the state’s tourism industry.
However, concerned bodies and citizens stated that the resort would harm the fragile ecosystem of Kaziranga and displace local communities.
Tata Sons Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran praised Assam’s natural beauty and assured that the company would work closely with the state government to ensure the project’s success.
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The company also announced plans to upgrade its Vivanta hotel in Guwahati to a Taj Hotel and establish another Taj Gateway hotel between Guwahati and Jagiroad.
The project’s opponents have raised concerns about the potential environmental impact and the lack of consultation with local stakeholders.
Assam’s civil rights organization, Jeepal Krishak Samiti, has raised its voice against the proposed plans, terming them “catastrophic” not just for Kaziranga’s fragile ecosystem, teeming with its world-famous elephants and other fauna, but also for the local population – primarily farmers who rely on the land for their very survival.
Dr. Sanjib Kumar Borkakoti, an expert member of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and International Cultural Tourism Committee and International Committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage, also expressed apprehension about the project’s impact on the park’s ecology.
Greater Kaziranga Land and Human Rights Protection Committee claimed that huge portion of land in the vicinity of Kaziranga has been converted and is being handed over to the international hospitality group to construct a five-star hotel without following norms.
Rights activists Pranab Doley claimed that around 45 tea tribes and Adivasi families have been cultivating on the said land, which was agricultural in nature and also served as a grazing ground for domestic and wild animals.