The Assam government plans to develop a high-end hotel in and around the traditional habitat of elephants, bordering Golaghat and Karbi Anglong districts. This area, utilized by elephants, tigers, leopards, and other wildlife, raises concerns among local communities about displacement and environmental impact.

The Hyatt Hotel Corporation, reportedly signed an MoU with the Assam Government last year for a five-star hotel near Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR), and intends to invest Rs 100 crore in a luxury hotel with 120 rooms, swimming pools, and extensive parking spaces over 30 acres. This initiative has sparked protests from indigenous and Adivasi communities, citing historical land use and livelihood concerns.

Similarly, it is reported that the Tata Group's plan to construct a Taj Hotel on eight hectares of land within Hathikhuli Tea Estate faces opposition from tea industry workers. They argue that the hotel's construction will disrupt both tea cultivation and wildlife movement during floods, exacerbating human-animal conflicts near the UNESCO World Heritage site of Kaziranga.

Local activists criticise the government for displacing families in the name of conservation and tourism, urging a halt to evictions and private land allocations. Concerns also extend to the broader impact on wildlife habitats and the sustainability of local livelihoods dependent on traditional land use.

As these projects proceed amidst local resistance and environmental concerns, the fate of these developments and their implications for wildlife conservation and community welfare remain contentious issues in Assam.

We invited Hyatt Hotel Corporation and Taj Hotels to respond to the allegations; Hyatt Hotel Corporation denied it has plans to construct within the Hathikhuli Tea Estate. Taj Hotels said it ‘pursues development opportunities in compliance with all prevailing policies and regulations. Any development in this area will be in keeping with this principle.’  (linked below).