GUWAHATI: The ongoing dispute over proposed luxury hotel projects near Kaziranga National Park has taken a sharper political turn, with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma defending the government’s approach to tourism development and questioning the opposition’s campaign against the projects.
Sarma said the opposition should consider the legal framework governing Eco-Sensitive Zones before claiming that development is prohibited around protected areas. According to the Chief Minister, ESZ regulations place strict restrictions on activities that can cause significant environmental damage, such as mining, chemical industries and heavily polluting units, but do not automatically prevent every form of construction or economic activity.
Defending the proposed tourism infrastructure, Sarma described Kaziranga as one of Assam’s most important tourist destinations and argued that additional hospitality facilities could support the region’s tourism economy when developed within applicable regulations. He referred to wildlife destinations such as Jim Corbett and Gir, where hotels and other tourism facilities have developed around protected areas.
The Chief Minister also accused some opponents of the Kaziranga hotel projects of taking an inconsistent position, alleging that people campaigning against the developments themselves use hotels while visiting the national park. He described the criticism as an example of what he called “double-standard politics” and accused the opposition of turning an environmental and regulatory issue into a political controversy.
Sarma further targeted the Congress over its criticism of the government’s position, bringing the discussion back to the long-standing challenges of rhino poaching and encroachment in and around Kaziranga. He claimed that his government had taken stronger measures to protect wildlife and curb illegal activities affecting the national park.
Highlighting conservation-related initiatives, Sarma referred to efforts to control rhino poaching and the development of an animal corridor intended to improve wildlife connectivity towards the Nagaon side. He presented these measures as part of his government’s broader approach to balancing conservation with development.
The Chief Minister also claimed that the opposition campaign against the hotel projects could ultimately benefit the ruling government politically, arguing that residents living around Kaziranga were aware of the government’s position and its development plans.
Referring to recent demonstrations in the Kohora area, Sarma said the response on the ground did not suggest widespread opposition to his government. He claimed that during some protests, effigies of opposition leaders were burnt instead of those of the Chief Minister, using the incident to question the extent of public support for the opposition campaign.
The controversy over the proposed hotels comes amid a broader debate over the future of development around Kaziranga, particularly the balance between tourism, environmental protection and the interests of communities living around the protected area.
Sarma maintained that the discussion should be based on the applicable environmental regulations and the economic and tourism needs of the region rather than being driven primarily by political allegations. The issue is likely to remain contentious as concerns over conservation and development continue to shape the debate around Kaziranga.
