KAZIRANGA, Dec 13 - The situation in Kaziranga is still tense, as most of the business establishments remained closed since Monday as protests against the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) has erupted in many parts of greater Kaziranga. To mark their protest against the CAB, the protesters burnt tyres on the national highway and prevented some commuters from moving towards their designated destinations.
The tourists, including foreign visitors, had a very difficult time as most of the them were stranded on their way in Nagoan district. Later they were able to put up in guest houses. Similarly, tourists who were at Kaziranga on Saturday and Sunday could not move out due to the bandh. Public transport buses remained off the roads.
Highly-placed sources informed this correspondent that due to the continuous bandh for the last four days, there is a huge loss of Forest revenue in Kaziranga National Park amounting to more than Rs 20 lakhs as a large number of tourists in Kaziranga had cancelled their visits due to the sudden law-and-order problem in many parts of Assam.
Sources further added that December month is a crucial one as far as tourist season is concerned as most of the international tourists plan their tour programmes during Christmas holidays.
Kaziranga Forest department has earned only 30 to 40 % of total tourists revenue in December. It would take a lot of time to overcome this loss. It is also estimated that most of the hotels had suffered heavy losses amounting to crores of rupees.
Phatik Bora, president of Kaziranga Hotel Association informed that jungle safaris, both elephant and jeep had been affected the most since Tuesday, after the CAB was passed. He added that small traders who were dependent on seasonal tourist business had been badly affected, adding that common people were having difficult times as most of the grocery shops remained closed since Monday. Tourists and local people faced problems as financial transaction could not be carried out due to the closure of State Bank of India at Kohora, Kaziranga.
The prices of some of the essential food items would increase during the next few days after the bandh which entered the 5th day today.
The protesters were seen expressing their anger against local AGP and BJP leaders of Kaziranga.
Curfew was imposed in Golaghat since 10 pm on Thursday till 5 am on Friday, which made the situation more confusing for the tourists, especially foreign tourists coming to Kaziranga by late Thursday evening from Guwahati.
According to Secretary of Kaziranga Jeep Safari Association Ananda Gogoi, most of the tourists had cancelled their advance bookings in many hotels at Kaziranga. It has affected the Jeep safari business very badly since Monday last.
