Assam Government to Inaugurate Kaziranga Orchid Park Amid Controversy: Akhil Gogoi Accuses Political Vendetta Against KMSS Park
The Assam government is preparing to inaugurate a new state-run orchid garden in Kaziranga, officially named Kaziranga Orchid Park (or Government Orchid Garden in Kaziranga National Park), on March 3, 2026. This development, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, has ignited significant controversy, with opposition figures accusing the BJP-led administration of political vendetta against an existing community initiative.
The new Kaziranga Orchid Park, developed by the state’s Horticulture Department at Kohora on the banks of the Kohora river at an estimated cost of around Rs 17 crore, is touted as India’s largest integrated orchid park. It will feature over 650 species of orchids, including rare and endangered varieties from the Northeast, along with modern facilities like accommodation to boost tourism in the iconic Kaziranga National Park area.
However, the move has drawn sharp criticism from Raijor Dal chief and Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi. The existing Kaziranga National Orchid and Biodiversity Park, operated by the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) for the past 11+ years under a cooperative model, has been hailed as a symbol of indigenous innovation, preserving over 2,000 wild orchid species (claimed to be among the world’s largest collections), Assam’s diverse tribal traditions, rare flora, and cultural elements. It generates substantial revenue for the state annually through tourism.
In recent social media statements and reports, Akhil Gogoi alleged that the government deliberately chose a location just 3-4 km away from the KMSS-run park, adopting a similar name and concept to undermine and eliminate the people’s initiative out of “revenge politics” and vindictiveness. He described it as intellectual bankruptcy, a conspiracy against grassroots creativity, and an attack on Assamese self-respect, rather than fostering healthy competition or alternative sites elsewhere in Assam.
Gogoi emphasized that the KMSS park represents a unique document of local labor, alternative development, and biodiversity conservation, contributing crores in revenue while earning global recognition. He warned that using state power to target such a national pride due to past ideological and political differences sets a dangerous precedent, staining democracy, and that Assam’s conscious society would not accept it passively.
The controversy highlights tensions between government-led tourism enhancement in Kaziranga and support for community-driven conservation efforts amid the region’s rich orchid biodiversity (with Kaziranga itself recording over 70 orchid species in recent surveys).
This debate underscores broader issues of governance, recognition of public initiatives, and balanced development in Assam’s ecologically sensitive zones.
