Mumbai: Actor Adivi Sesh has written to the Assam government urging it to review a proposed resort development in the ecologically sensitive Kaziranga region, warning that commercial construction could damage one of India's most important wildlife habitats.
Sesh, known for films such as Major and G2, shared pictures of his letter on Instagram on October 14 and asked authorities to weigh the long-term ecological cost before any irreversible decision is taken.
An appeal for transparency and audits
In the letter, the actor called for complete transparency over the land involved in the project, independent environmental assessments wherever necessary, and meaningful inclusion of local communities in the decision-making process.
"Nature does not belong to us; we are only its temporary custodians," Sesh wrote, framing the issue as one of stewardship rather than ownership. He described Kaziranga as a living ecosystem and a natural heritage that belongs to every Indian, and warned that once a wildlife corridor is disrupted or a habitat permanently altered, restoring the balance can be "incredibly difficult, sometimes impossible."
Why Kaziranga matters
Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Assam, is home to the world's largest population of the greater one-horned rhinoceros. Proposals for luxury hotels and wellness resorts at Inglay Pathar and Hathikhuli near the park have drawn protests over land allocation and fears that construction could cut through wildlife corridors that animals depend on to reach higher ground during the annual floods.
Sesh also stressed that local communities and Adivasi farmers who have lived around the landscape for generations must have a say in decisions affecting their lives and environment, adding that conservation cannot succeed if those communities are left out of the conversation.
The actor said the letter was not about opposing development but about asking for development that is thoughtful, responsible and sustainable. The Assam government has not publicly responded to the letter so far.
Sources:
- Adivi Sesh urges Assam govt to review proposed resort development near Kaziranga (Times of India / IANS)
- Adivi Sesh Speaks Up for Kaziranga's Wildlife (Deccan Chronicle)
Sesh, known for films such as Major and G2, shared pictures of his letter on Instagram on October 14 and asked authorities to weigh the long-term ecological cost before any irreversible decision is taken.
An appeal for transparency and audits
In the letter, the actor called for complete transparency over the land involved in the project, independent environmental assessments wherever necessary, and meaningful inclusion of local communities in the decision-making process.
"Nature does not belong to us; we are only its temporary custodians," Sesh wrote, framing the issue as one of stewardship rather than ownership. He described Kaziranga as a living ecosystem and a natural heritage that belongs to every Indian, and warned that once a wildlife corridor is disrupted or a habitat permanently altered, restoring the balance can be "incredibly difficult, sometimes impossible."
Why Kaziranga matters
Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Assam, is home to the world's largest population of the greater one-horned rhinoceros. Proposals for luxury hotels and wellness resorts at Inglay Pathar and Hathikhuli near the park have drawn protests over land allocation and fears that construction could cut through wildlife corridors that animals depend on to reach higher ground during the annual floods.
Sesh also stressed that local communities and Adivasi farmers who have lived around the landscape for generations must have a say in decisions affecting their lives and environment, adding that conservation cannot succeed if those communities are left out of the conversation.
The actor said the letter was not about opposing development but about asking for development that is thoughtful, responsible and sustainable. The Assam government has not publicly responded to the letter so far.
Sources:
- Adivi Sesh urges Assam govt to review proposed resort development near Kaziranga (Times of India / IANS)
- Adivi Sesh Speaks Up for Kaziranga's Wildlife (Deccan Chronicle)
