Double trouble for proposed 5-star hotel in Kaziranga

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 5, 2024

The proposed 5-star hotel project in Kaziranga is heading for topsy curvy if the National Green Tribunal (NGT) case and the statement of the Union minister in the Parliament is taken into consideration.

Both incidents came to the fore two days after the Assam government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Amalgamated Plantations Private Limited (APPL) and the Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), subsidiaries of Tata Group companies for a 5-star hotel in the proximity of the Kaziranga.

As a part of the MoU, a Taj Resort and Spa will be opened with an investment of Rs 120 crore. Moreover, under the MoU, Amalgamated Plantations Private Limited in collaboration with Indian Hotels Company Limited will establish hotel and hospitality infrastructure with modern facilities at Kaziranga.

The NGT has taken up a suo motu case in connection with the construction of big hotel projects in the proximity of the World Heritage Site Kaziranga National Park.

The original application No.1049/2024 was registered based on a media report alleging that proposed luxury hotels in and around Kaziranga will threaten wildlife conservation and livelihood.

The Tribunal will hear the case on August 7.

Meanwhile, the Central government on Monday told Lok Sabha that no permanent structures will be allowed in eco-sensitive zones of the national parks and reserve forests.

Responding to a question from MP Hanuman Beniwal, Union minister of state for forest, Kirti Vardhan Singh told Lok Sabha that no new permanent structure would be permitted in eco-sensitive zones of forest reserve area and forest lands as per a Supreme Court order.

There are many proposals pending with the standing committee for the National Wildlife Board and the Forest Advisory Committee for the construction of various projects in parts of eco-sensitive zones.

In his question, Beniwakl wanted to know whether, as per the directions of the Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal (NGT), there is a ban on the construction of hotels, resorts etc., inside buffer zones of any forest reserve area, forest land etc. along with the catchment and submergence areas of lakes.

“The directions of the Supreme Court in an order dated June 3, 2022, stated that no new permanent structure shall be permitted for whatsoever purpose within the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ). The referred order of Supreme Court was later clarified vide the said Court order dated April 26, 2023, wherein activities were permitted subject to strict adherence of the guidelines of this Ministry dated February 9, 2011,” the Union minister said.

Beniwal further asked, “If so, the basis on which hotels and resorts were constructed in the buffer zone of Sariska and in the catchment area of Siliserh Lake in Alwar district of Rajasthan along with the details thereof; whether the government proposes to demolish such illegal constructions by taking suo-motu cognizance of such cases without any delay?”

The Union minister said that “compliance of the order of the Supreme Court and the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change have to be adhered by the states/union territories for protection and management of forest areas including Eco-Sensitive Zones.”

Responding to another question from TMC MP Khalilur Rahaman on whether the government is cognizant of the fact that increased in tourism activities in hill stations across the country are vulnerable to climate change, the minister said, “Unregulated tourism beyond the carrying capacity of hill stations disturbs their ecological balance and may increase the vulnerability of such hill stations. Rampant infrastructural and tourism-related development, involving removal of forests and vegetation over a large area, alteration of natural water flow patterns, overloading on slopes, unscientific excavation, etc. may make the hill regions more prone to erosion and landslides, especially during heavy rainfall and earthquakes. Post-disaster landslide studies carried out by the Geological Survey of India (GSI), Ministry of Mines has observed that human interference disturbs the natural environment and enhances the scope of increase in landslide occurrence.”