Bhubaneswar: The state government has submitted a proposal worth Rs 26 crore to the National Tiger Conservation Authority to increase the tiger population in Satkosia Tiger Reserve.
The forest department has also decided to release three pairs of tigers from Madhya Pradesh over a period of five years to increase the tiger population in the tiger reserve which is apparently left with just one big cat.
While the Centre is proposed to bear 60 per cent of the expenditure, the state will contribute 40 percent.
"In the first phase one tiger pair from Madhya Pradesh is likely to be released by March next year. We will also seek help from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in identification of tigers from Madhya Pradesh," said a forest official.
Regional chief conservator of forests and field director of the tiger reserve, Sudarshan Panda, said they were hopeful of the success of the project.
"With relocation of human beings from the core area there will be increase in the number of herbivore animals which will ensure the food for the tigers. We will also monitor the movement of released tigers through CCTVs," said Panda.
The Angul district administration has already started evacuation process of forest dwellers living in the core area of Satkosia Tiger Reserve to facilitate release of a pair of tiger from Madhya Pradesh in the tiger reserve.
The forest department has earlier made a proposal to release three pairs of tigers from Madhya Pradesh over a period of five years to increase the tiger population in the tiger reserve which is apparently left with just one big cat. Satkosia, which is spead over 745 sqkm, is a promising tiger reserve as it not only has the required forest cover but also prey base for the big cats.
In the first phase, the forest dwellers of Raigoda village are being relocated from the core area of the tiger reserve. Altogether, 78 tribal families living in the village for decades will be shifted to a location outside the core area. The authorities have already started construction for temporary resettlement of the tribal families. District administration officials said each of the displaced family would get Rs10 lakh, four decimal of land and a house under the Biju Pucca Ghar Yojna.
Bear bite
Two women of Nilgiri are undergoing treatment in the hospital after they were bitten by a bear. The women have been identified as Anita Parida, 35, of village Sarupal under Dhobsila gram panchayat and Basanti Acharya, 38, of Radhikadeipur village of same gram panchayat.
