GUWAHATI, March 11 � Proliferation of the roadside hotels, eateries and resorts around the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) has been causing serious problems for the wildlife of the park. But there is no apparent move on the part of the State Government to tackle this menace by regulating such business establishments.
According to the August 31, 2010 meeting minutes of the Kaziranga Biodiversity Conservation and Development Committee (KBCDC), though the nearly around 1200 hotels, roadside eateries and resorts around the KNP have obtained no objection certificates (NoCs) from the gram panchayat, none of them has obtained any permission under the SARAI Act.
The issue was discussed by the KBCDC on more than one occasion with much emphasis on keeping the animal corridors of the national park open so that the animals of the park can easily migrate to the nearby Karbi Anglong forests and thereby proliferation of their population is ensured.
Earlier, after in-depth deliberations, the KBCDC had observed in its meeting on July 30, 2010 that from the presentation made by the KNP Director, it emerged that the most important issue influencing the ecological status of KNP is the �unregulated growth of the hospitality-related infrastructure development as well as stone mining in close and often very close proximity of the KNP.�
If not checked and further regulated, these activities �will result in physical isolation of KNP from Karbi Anglong forest area in its southern part, which will choke animal migration so vital for increasing animal population in KNP as well as for their very survival,� it was observed in the said KBCDC meeting.
It also decided, among others, that �No further and new license/permission shall be accorded for establishing new infrastructure (resort, guest house, eateries, etc.) at new sites and immediate action shall be taken to thwart any attempt to do so by any one.�
According to the July 7, 2014 reply of the office of the Kaliabor Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil), to an RTI application, dated March 29, 2014, of RTI-cum-environment activist Rohit Choudhury, �none of the hotels/resorts/dhabas/commercial venture� mentioned in the list has got pollution clearance certificate or was registered under the SARAI Act or has trade licence/or clearance from the Forest Department.
The reply of the Sub-Divisional Officer's office also stated that some of these dhabas/resorts and hotels have even encroached upon Government land.
A similar reply was also received by Choudhury to his RTI queries from the office of the Bokakhat Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil) on August 1, 2014. But it was silent on the issue of encroachment on Government land.
Both the offices of the Kaliabor and Bokakhat Sub-Divisional Officers (Civil) told Choudhury that the Forest Department can only tell whether the hotels, dhabas, restaurants, resorts and commercial ventures are causing disturbances for the wildlife (like noise pollution/air pollution/blocking animal corridor, etc.).
Significantly, the Deputy Commissioner of Golaghat made an observation at the August 31, 2010 meeting of the KBCDC that 12 stone crushers operating in the vicinity of the park are causing serious water and air pollution.
The KBCDC chairman observed in that meeting that it is necessary to regulate new constructions and asked the Revenue Department to serve show cause notices on the parties concerned for violation of rules in converting land use from agricultural to commercial activities. He added that �even land patta should be cancelled if those concerned don�t respond. Copy of such notice should be marked to the Forest Department for filing caveat in the appropriate court of law.�
GUWAHATI, March 11 � Proliferation of the roadside hotels, eateries and resorts around the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) has been causing serious problems for the wildlife of the park. But there is no apparent move on the part of the State Government to tackle this menace by regulating such business establishments.
According to the August 31, 2010 meeting minutes of the Kaziranga Biodiversity Conservation and Development Committee (KBCDC), though the nearly around 1200 hotels, roadside eateries and resorts around the KNP have obtained no objection certificates (NoCs) from the gram panchayat, none of them has obtained any permission under the SARAI Act.
The issue was discussed by the KBCDC on more than one occasion with much emphasis on keeping the animal corridors of the national park open so that the animals of the park can easily migrate to the nearby Karbi Anglong forests and thereby proliferation of their population is ensured.
Earlier, after in-depth deliberations, the KBCDC had observed in its meeting on July 30, 2010 that from the presentation made by the KNP Director, it emerged that the most important issue influencing the ecological status of KNP is the �unregulated growth of the hospitality-related infrastructure development as well as stone mining in close and often very close proximity of the KNP.�
If not checked and further regulated, these activities �will result in physical isolation of KNP from Karbi Anglong forest area in its southern part, which will choke animal migration so vital for increasing animal population in KNP as well as for their very survival,� it was observed in the said KBCDC meeting.
It also decided, among others, that �No further and new license/permission shall be accorded for establishing new infrastructure (resort, guest house, eateries, etc.) at new sites and immediate action shall be taken to thwart any attempt to do so by any one.�
According to the July 7, 2014 reply of the office of the Kaliabor Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil), to an RTI application, dated March 29, 2014, of RTI-cum-environment activist Rohit Choudhury, �none of the hotels/resorts/dhabas/commercial venture� mentioned in the list has got pollution clearance certificate or was registered under the SARAI Act or has trade licence/or clearance from the Forest Department.
The reply of the Sub-Divisional Officer's office also stated that some of these dhabas/resorts and hotels have even encroached upon Government land.
A similar reply was also received by Choudhury to his RTI queries from the office of the Bokakhat Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil) on August 1, 2014. But it was silent on the issue of encroachment on Government land.
Both the offices of the Kaliabor and Bokakhat Sub-Divisional Officers (Civil) told Choudhury that the Forest Department can only tell whether the hotels, dhabas, restaurants, resorts and commercial ventures are causing disturbances for the wildlife (like noise pollution/air pollution/blocking animal corridor, etc.).
Significantly, the Deputy Commissioner of Golaghat made an observation at the August 31, 2010 meeting of the KBCDC that 12 stone crushers operating in the vicinity of the park are causing serious water and air pollution.
The KBCDC chairman observed in that meeting that it is necessary to regulate new constructions and asked the Revenue Department to serve show cause notices on the parties concerned for violation of rules in converting land use from agricultural to commercial activities. He added that �even land patta should be cancelled if those concerned don�t respond. Copy of such notice should be marked to the Forest Department for filing caveat in the appropriate court of law.�
