Guwahati: The Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) on Tuesday rejected the land grab allegation against its leader Akhil Gogoi by a city-based contractor. It said the land for the Orchid and Biodiversity Park near Kaziranga National Park was allotted by the state government following all formalities.

"The 22- bigha land was allotted to a co-operative society which opened the Orchid and Biodiversity Park on November 2, 2015, as decided by the Golaghat subdivision-level land advisory committee. In February 2016, the district administration submitted the documents to the state revenue department stating that non-cadastral land was allotted to the co-operative society. The department after several queries forwarded the matter to the cabinet for patta (land document), which is still pending. The document has clearly said the land is outside Kaziranga and is not forestland. So, the question of encroachment is absurd," KMSS adviser Akhil said.

In an FIR lodged in Golaghat police station on Monday, contractor Dulal Bora alleged that Akhil had encroached upon forestland and constructed the orchid park.

Akhil said the park was set up by a co-operative society and had provided employment to 84 local youths, apart from providing tourists a glimpse of local culture, lifestyle and traditional food. "The BJP government is handling over huge parcels of land to corporate groups but it is not giving permanent allotment to the co-operative society run by local youths. Instead, it is using some people to lodge an encroachment case against us."

The orchid park displays many rare orchids, local varieties of flowers, fruits, the lifestyle of indigenous communities and ethnic food, besides other attractions.

Akhil also rejected Bora's allegation that former Congress minister Rakibul Hussain had given Rs 5 crore to set up the park.