Kaziranga Hotel Row: Himanta Sarma Defends Tourism Push, Questions Opposition

GUWAHATI: The debate over proposed hotel projects near Kaziranga National Park has intensified, with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma defending the government’s tourism plans and questioning the opposition’s objections. Sarma said Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) rules do not impose a blanket ban on development and argued that tourism infrastructure can be permitted when it complies with environmental regulations. He also cited other major wildlife destinations such as Jim Corbett and Gir as examples of tourism facilities operating around protected areas.

Sarma accused opponents of the projects of adopting contradictory positions and referred to recent protests in Kohora while defending his government’s record on wildlife protection. He highlighted measures against rhino poaching and encroachment, as well as an animal corridor towards the Nagaon side. The Chief Minister maintained that development around Kaziranga should be assessed through environmental rules, tourism requirements and local interests rather than political allegations.