Guwahati: Plans to erect three opulent hotels, including a Grand Hyatt, within the hallowed grounds of Assam’s Kaziranga National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – have ignited a firestorm of controversy.
Environmentalists and local farmers alike have expressed outrage at the Assam government’s tourism department’s decision to partner with the Tata Group and the Hyatt Hotel Corporation for this five-star hotel project.
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The foundation stones for these mammoth projects are slated to be laid sometime in June or July this year. However, critics vehemently argue that this development will not only disrupt the park’s delicate ecosystem but also displace the very people who depend on the land for their livelihood.
Hayat, a multinational hospitality giant, has set its sights on Hathikuli Inglay Pothar for its extravagant hotel. This area, revered by locals as a “playground for elephants,” serves as a traditional habitat for these magnificent creatures. Located near the Kohora range, Hathikuli Inglay Pothar falls under the protective umbrella of UNESCO’s World Heritage designation.
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.
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Jeepal Krishak Samiti’s Soneswar Narah said that the construction sites for the hotel and resort are crucial flood shelters for Kaziranga’s elephants. “These areas provide temporary refuge on higher ground during the floods, but with their construction, the animals will have nowhere to go,” Narah said.
He further highlighted the plight of the local populace. They reported the demolition of Lokhu Gowala’s house on June 7 by authorities, allegedly as the first step towards facilitating hotel construction.
Mubina Akhtar, a journalist and conservationist, shed light on the government’s alleged labeling of the people residing on the designated hotel site as “encroachers.” She questioned this classification, pointing out that these tribal communities have resided and cultivated this land for generations, having lost their original homes due to erosion by the Dhansiri River. Akhtar lamented the government’s seemingly endless supply of land for corporate giants while claiming to have none for indigenous, landless farmers.
“How can the forest department authorize a five-star hotel construction in the same area where they won’t even permit digging a well, citing environmental concerns?” Akhtar asks, highlighting the apparent inconsistency.
Mohan Malakar, a retired PCCF of Assam, emphasized the legal restrictions on construction within elephant corridors and sanctuaries.
“If there’s an elephant corridor and if it serves as a refuge and migratory path for these elephants, such construction shouldn’t be permitted. The movement of elephants must not be impeded. A thorough cost-benefit analysis should be conducted before proceeding with this project,” Malakar asserted.
He also pointed out a previous Supreme Court ruling that mandated the demolition of a concrete wall built within an elephant corridor by the Numaligarh Refinery.
Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, the Secretary General and CEO of Aaranyak, echoed similar concerns. He stated that the forest department should withhold permission for such projects if the area falls within an eco-sensitive zone or obstructs elephant movement.
Adding his voice to the chorus of dissent, conservationist and journalist Apurba Ballabh Goswami expressed his grave anxieties about the project’s impact on Kaziranga National Park.
“We witnessed elephants while traveling on the road leading to the designated area. Constructing a hotel here will not only impede the movement of elephants but also disrupt the habitat of other wild animals like rhinos and deer. This project jeopardizes the very existence of Kaziranga,” Goswami warned.
Public hearings, he suggested, would undoubtedly reveal the lack of local support for such a project.
Environmental activists Bubul Sarma has raised concerns about the project triggering increased human-elephant conflict in the area.
The controversy is further amplified by the fact that this development coincides with the government’s announcement of seven eco-sensitive zones surrounding Kaziranga, aimed at restricting development activities.
The Jipal Krishak Shramik Sangh highlighted this glaring contradiction, questioning the rationale behind granting land approvals for hotels within these very zones.
The demolition of a farmer’s house built on agricultural land has served as a potent symbol of the potential loss faced by over 45 families in Hatikhali-Rangajan, stoking anger and resentment within the local community.
(With input from Kalpajyoti Saikia.)