Guwahati, Aug 5: The proposed 5-star hotel project in Kaziranga might be significant hurdles, considering the ongoing National Green Tribunal (NGT) case and recent statements by a Union minister in Parliament.

These developments emerged shortly after the Assam government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Amalgamated Plantations Private Limited (APPL) and the Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), both subsidiaries of Tata Group companies, to establish a 5-star hotel near Kaziranga. According to the MoU, a Taj Resort and Spa will be opened with an investment of Rs 120 crore, and modern hotel and hospitality infrastructure will be developed.

The NGT has initiated a suo motu case concerning the construction of large hotel projects near the Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This case (Application No. 1049/2024) was registered based on a media report suggesting that proposed luxury hotels in the area could threaten wildlife conservation and local livelihoods. The Tribunal is set to hear the case on August 7.

Meanwhile, the Central government informed Lok Sabha on Monday that no permanent structures would be allowed in the eco-sensitive zones of national parks and reserve forests. In response to a question from MP Hanuman Beniwal, Union Minister of State for Forests Kirti Vardhan Singh stated that, as per a Supreme Court order, no new permanent structures would be permitted in these zones. Singh cited a Supreme Court order dated June 3, 2022, and a subsequent clarification on April 26, 2023, which outlined strict guidelines for activities within eco-sensitive zones.

Beniwal questioned whether there is a ban on constructing hotels, resorts, and other structures within buffer zones of forest reserves, forest lands, and catchment areas of lakes. He also inquired about the status of existing structures in Sariska’s buffer zone and Siliserh Lake’s catchment area in Rajasthan, asking if the government plans to demolish these illegal constructions.

In response, Singh affirmed that states and union territories must comply with the Supreme Court order and guidelines from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to protect and manage forest areas, including eco-sensitive zones.

Addressing a question from TMC MP Khalilur Rahaman regarding the impact of increased tourism on hill stations’ vulnerability to climate change, Singh acknowledged that unregulated tourism beyond the carrying capacity of hill stations disturbs their ecological balance and increases their vulnerability. He noted that rampant infrastructural development, deforestation, alteration of natural water flow patterns, and unscientific excavation contribute to erosion and landslides, especially during heavy rainfall and earthquakes. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has observed that human interference in hill regions enhances the likelihood of landslides.

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