GUWAHATI: A group of environmentalists have written to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to reconsider the decision of bringing hospitality projects at certain sites at the Kaziranga National Park. Through a letter to the chief minister, the group under the name Assam Environmental NGO Forum, raised the concern as the proposed five start hotel sites are “major elephant refuge”.
ALSO READ: Assam: Dibrugarh University Postpones 3-Year LL.B Examinations Due To Floods
“As per information available in the public domain, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the state government and Hyatt Hotels on September 23, 2023 for construction of a five-star hotel spreading over a 30-acre area at Hathikuli Inglay Pothar near the Kohora Range— a traditional habitat of elephants,” the letter to the chief minister stated adding that there have also been concerns over coming up of a luxury resort in the Hatikhuli tea estate, an area frequented by mega faunas like elephants, rhinos, tigers, wild buffaloes, deer etc.
“It is more obvious during high flood when wild animals, escaping flood waters are seen crossing the national highway to seek refuge in the Karbi Anglong Hills adjacent to the proposed sites. The concerns of the local people are therefore not unfounded—as these areas act as natural high grounds for a variety of wildlife during flood. Any alteration/obstruction in their migrating pathways would prove disastrous and the adjoining neighbourhoods/villages would bear the brunt as a consequence,” explained the letter.
“We must never forget the undaunted perseverance of those who lived in the periphery but nurtured Kaziranga by following a policy of co-existence. The Supreme Court, while hearing a case concerning the demarcation of the boundaries of Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in March this year, warned that animal-human conflicts pose a danger to the very existence of forests and wildlife, a balance has to be struck which takes care of the rights of both stakeholders,” read the letter.
“Need for new projects and infrastructure is crucial for economic and social development. However, when it comes to World Heritage Sites, they can also have negative impacts on unique qualities like “Outstanding Universal Value" for which they receive World Heritage Site status. Overexploitation of natural resources seriously impacts wildlife, forests, the functioning of rivers and streams and left us with more losses than earnings which have become evident in many parts of our own state,” said the letter.
The forum said that they welcome a five star hotel project or a luxury resort in cities or towns. In this case, Kaliabor or Jakhalabandha in the Nagaon district, Bokakhat in Golaghat district or even Tezpur or Biswanath could be better options for the proposed projects.
“We belies your kind office would consider the mentioned alternatives and find the best possible solutions to meet both conservation priorities and development needs. Kaziranga is home to several critically-endangered species. There have already been too rnany constructions being allowed around the park-- mostly in the Kohora and the Bagori ranges, that they could be dangerous to the Park's fragile ecosystem. We, as people working for conservation of nature, have always desired a State responsibility for preventing, reducing and controlling risks of environmental damage and appeal our government for a proactive policy that requires sustainable use of our natural resources, reduction in pollution and protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems,” the forum requested the chief minister through the letter.
It needs to me mentioned that Assam’s Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) is at the center of a controversy surrounding the proposed construction of three five-star hotels within its boundaries.
