Guwahati: The Assam civil rights organisation Jeepal Krishak Samiti has alleged that there could be a collusion between the state government and local and foreign NGOs over the latter’s insipid response and lack of outrage over proposed plans of constructing a five-star hotel and resort at Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR).
NGOs have allegedly been silent on the Himanta Biswa Sarma government’s plan to construct a high-end hotel in and around the traditional habitat meant for elephants. The Samiti has asked why NGOs have not questioned the government.
The rights organisation emphasised that the proposed plans will not only be ‘catastrophic’ for Kazrianga’s fragile eco-system comprising its world famous four-legged species like elephants and other animals, but also for its local people, who are mostly farmers who depend on the land for livelihood.
The rights organisation named organisations like Aranyak, Corbett Foundation and World Wildlife Fund Nature (WWF). It asked why none of them have filed public interest litigations.
The rights body told The Wire that the Chicago-based Hyatt Hotel Corporation, a multinational hospitality company, is planning to construct a five-star hotel at Hathikuli Inglay Pothar, a traditional habitat for elephants and considered as a ‘playground for elephants’ by locals.
Hatikhuli Inglay Pothar is located near the Kohora range at Kaziranga which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The locals have been protesting not only the proposed hotel but also the construction of a Taj resort by the Tata Group.
Soneswar Narah of Jeepal told The Wire, “NGOs like Aranyak, Corbett Foundation and WWF have supposedly been involved in creating awareness about nature and wildlife, and protecting the fragile eco-system of Kaziranga. Now, they are silent over the construction of a five-star hotel in Kaziranga. This implies that they are in collusion with the state government.”
Narah also added, “The areas in which the hotel and resort are to be constructed are places where the elephants seek shelter during the floods. The animals of Kaziranga seek higher ground to escape from the tumultuous waters, and it provides them an interim haven. Once the hotel and resort are constructed, where will the animals go?”
Jeepal also pointed to the crisis faced by local people.
Locals report that on June 7 the house of one Lokhu Gowala, was torn down by authorities as the first step towards the construction of the hotel.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the state government and Hyatt Hotels on September 23, 2023.
