Tour Operators for Tigers, an organisation promoting responsible tourism in and around tiger reserves, has awarded JTI-run Diphlu River Lodge the label "Quality Practice". This is the second highest stage of the PUG Rating and it certifies the lodge as both environmentally and socio-culturally responsible.
The TOFT auditors were "very happy" with our operations positive approach to Conservation education, ecological, economical and socio-cultural practices. From the TOFT audit report:
"Conservation Education Practices
Client Briefing: The lodge provides in-depth briefings on the park, conservation issues and the wildlife that can be expected next day (scheduled in evening).
Library: The lodge has a separate library with a good range of wildlife books & literature. The lodge also has a provision to see audio-visual films on wildlife conservation which is good medium for awareness generation among kids and adults.
Nature Walks: The personal involvement of owners & managers in providing nature walk with valuable information regarding local flora and fauna is an effective approach.
Cultural education to the visitors: The lodge practices i.e. accommodation huts, local food etc reflects the local culture.
Souvenirs: The lodge has a gallery for the locally made handicraft and food products which could be purchased by the visitors.
Check-List: The lodge provides check-list for mammal, bird and reptiles found in Kaziranga.
Cultural Activities: The lodge offers various community based ecotourism activities i.e. visit walks, visiting weaving sites, inviting local dancers etc.
Ecological Practices
Accommodation: The lodge provides accommodation in the strategically designed huts placed on machans. This is an effective approach which helps in increased sightings and unhindered movement of wild animals wandering through the lodge especially during the night.
Solid Waste: The lodge segregates effectively its solid waste in the kitchen into biodegradable & non-biodegradable waste. The use of bamboo frameworks as dustbins is an innovative practice for collecting and segregating dry solid waste. The lodge also carries out composting for handling its bio-degradable waste which is an effective and sustainable approach.
Energy Conservation: The lodge’s Rooms have lantern style, dim light lamps which give minimal light impact. In addition to this lights inside the cottages are designed such as not to cast light beams outside.
Construction & interiors: The lodge uses indigenous natural materials for construction i.e. bamboo, grass roofs, thatch and mud-plastered walls which is a commendable step towards aesthetics and sustainability.
Waste Water Treatment: The lodge treats its grey water through filtering pond and reuses the same in rice fields. For Black water, lodge is having a septic tank.
Crop-Fields: The lodge is involved in growing some of the raw material for preparing food on its own i.e. rice, mustard, seasonal vegetables.
Drinking water plant: The lodge uses its own filtered water for drinking purposes. As the ground water quality of the area is good (except excess of Fe). The lodge management has put up a small plant for maintaining the Fe content to desired level, which is a commendable way of minimizing solid waste (plastic bottles).
Economic Practices
Wages and Incentives: The lodge is providing wages & incentive to the staff (90% local) in conformity with the prevalent regulations is appreciable. The lodge is also providing medical allowances, provident funds etc to their employees.
Local Food: The lodge procures most of the food raw materials for its operations locally and prepares Assamese in its kitchen which is a good step to promoting local food markets and culture.
More than 90% (80% Full time & 10% Part time) of the total staff is local (i.e. from NE-India, JK), which is commendable.
Training: The lodge provides training (duration 1 month per year) on sustainable tourism and environmental aspects to its local employees which is an effective approach for their integration with tourism. In addition to this, special training programmes for improving English language skills of the staff.
Socio-Cultural Practices
Support: The lodge is providing support to the local community and NGOs involved in conservation which is commendable. The lodge management also contributes in celebrating the local festivals such as Bihu. The local Mahouts are provided free access to the Diphlu River through the lodge for bathing of the elephants.
Employment: The 90%of the lodge’s staffing needs are met by employing local peoples."