UNESCO advisory body concerned over big hotel projects in Kaziranga

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 29, 2024

Finally, the Heritage Alert Committee of the Indian Chapter of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS India) has expressed its deep concern on the proposal of the Assam government for setting up of a 5-star hotel within the eco-sensitive zone of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Assam government has approved the proposal for setting up two 5-star hotels –Tata Group and Chicago-based Hyatt Hotel Corporation in Hatikhuli and Inglay Pothar close to Kaziranga in a bid to promote tourism in the state.

Tata Group will set up the hotel at its own land at Hatikhuli Tea Estate, while Hayat Group will set up the hotel on government land at Inglay Pothar (behind Hatikhuli Tea Estate) measuring 30 bighas which is under the possession of Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC).

Hatikhuli Inglay Pothar is located near the Kohora range at Kaziranga which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Heritage Alert Committee ICOMOS India, a UNESCO advisory body on the Indian World Heritage Site-related issues, took up the issue of construction of a 5-starr hotel in Kaziranga for discussion as an agenda (item number 7.4) in its meeting held on July 11.  

Notably, ICOMOS had on June 18 sent a letter to Assam Tourism director Kumar Padmapani seeking clarification on various aspects of the proposed 5-star hotel project in keeping with the principles laid down by UNESCO for the World Heritage Site.

In a fresh letter to the Assam Tourism director, zonal representative, NE Zone ICOMOS India, Dilip Changkakoty sought clarification whether the state government conducted a comprehensive study to determine the National Park’s carrying capacity for tourism, considering visitor numbers, infrastructure development, and potential impacts on wildlife and ecosystem.

Changkakoty asked the tourism director whether the potential impacts of the proposed development on the natural habitat and movement patterns of Kaziranga’s wildlife species had been thoroughly evaluated with mitigation measures planned while taking up a big hotel project in its proximity.

He inquired from the tourism department whether local communities been actively involved in discussions surrounding the project’s potential benefits and drawbacks

He further inquired whether the project proposal incorporates sustainable construction practices and infrastructure design that minimizes environmental footprint.

In his letter to the tourism director, Changkakoty said ICOMOS advocates for a balanced approach to tourism development at World Heritage Sites, as outlined in the UNESCO/ICOMOS Charter for Cultural Tourism (1999).

The state government has already handed over 30 bighas of land to Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) for the big hotel project.

Protest erupted at Inglay Pothar area near the Kohora range of Kaziranga National Park since June from the local inhabitants as well as activists and organisations for the Assam government’s decision to allot land for construction of five-star hotels.

The allotted land has been cultivated by the locals for generations and they have been paying the due revenue. Inglay Pothar is an area where wild elephants roam and play in large numbers, known as ‘hatighuli.’

The authorities started eviction in June and disrupted the seasonal rice cultivation in the area by stopping the locals from cultivating with help of fences and forces.

JEEPAL Krishak Shramik Sangha, a mass organisation from Assam with a base in Bokakhat—Kaziranga has been vocal against this decision of the government and the questionable silence of the ‘environment protecting’ NGOs working in the area.

UNESCO Advisory Body’s intervention into the Assam government’s decision to allot land for 5-star hotels at Kaziranga is welcomed by Jeepal Krishak Shramik Sangha.

Jeepal president Soneswar Narah said: “Kaziranga is already threatened by big private hotel/resort constructions done by none other than Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Kaliabor MLA Keshab Mahanta. Construction in the Inglay Pothar area would have been the new addition of 5-star hotels in Kaziranga. Such walled constructions are a violation of the rights of the farming communities as well as the wildlife and ecology of the area.”

ICOMOS (International Council On Monuments And Sites)— a decision making body of UNESCO’s selection of heritage sites issued an inquiry to the Assam government about the heritage risk of the proposed hotel development at Kaziranga. Based on the principles of the UNESCO/ICOMOS Charter for Cultural Tourism (1999) serious concern were expressed regarding carrying capacity assessment at the site, impact assessment on wildlife, community involvement requirements and alignment with sustainable practices.

“We welcome the UNESCO intervention as much needed and expresses hope for a decision protecting the rights of the people, wildlife and ecology of the region. Noteworthy that, violation of certain UNESCO rules can lead to losing the status of the ‘world heritage site’ by Kaziranga National Park, and that threat is eminent in the case of Inglay Pothar proposed constructions as instead of active involvement and discussion with community as suggested by the UNESCO Charter, eviction drive and forceful violation of right to life and livelihood was carried out by the Assam government. Also, there would be harmful impact on movement of the wild elephants in the area,” Narah added.