Nov. 15: Employees of the animal husbandry and veterinary department have opposed Dispur’s move to allow construction of a five-star hotel on the plot in Khanapara that belongs to the department.

A source said the Assam Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Service Association has requested veterinary minister Khorsing Ingti that instead of constructing the five-star hotel, the department should utilise the land for more useful purposes like poultry and dairy farming.

At a meeting chaired by chief minister Tarun Gogoi last month, the plot adjacent to the College of Veterinary Science on GS Road in Khanapara was identified for the hotel.

The Tata-owned Indian Hotels Company, which runs the Taj group of hotels, has given the proposal to develop the five-star address.

“The association was of the view that the department will require that land for implementing various public-oriented schemes and expansion of its existing facilities soon. Therefore, it requested the minister not to allot the land for the five-star hotel as it will adversely affect the department’s future plans,” the source said.

The association also pointed out that since the plot was adjacent to the College of Veterinary Science under Assam Agriculture University, a part of the land should be reserved for the expansion of the college. It added that ideally, land in the vicinity of such educational institutions needs to be reserved for future expansion of the institutes.

The source, however, said the government is unlikely to change its stand as the company has also found that plot to be suitable to set up a hotel. The company will complete the project within two years of acquiring the plot.

“Since the state government is looking for ways and means to upgrade the state’s hospitality sector to woo high-end tourists it is unlikely that Dispur will refuse the Tatas’ proposal. If required, the veterinary department will be provided land at some other place for its future activities,” the source said.

The source said Gogoi is keen to see the execution of this project as Guwahati desperately needs a five-star hotel to improve the image of the city in the eyes of tourists and prospective investors.

Chief mentor of Infosys N.R. Narayana Murthy underlined the need for having five-star accommodation before his company considers setting up operations in the state.

“In this case, the government does not have any other option because Guwahati is not a planned city. There is no other suitable plot of land available for the five-star project within the city limits,” the source added.

If the company’s proposal is accepted, this will be the second five-star hotel in the city. The DS Group has already signed a memorandum of understanding with the state government for building a five-star hotel in Gotanagar.