Of the total amount, official expect the release of Rs 1.4 crore as a first instalment shortly by the State.

According to official sources, the government notified 1.40 lakh hectares of forest areas in Sathy region as tiger sanctuary in March 2013 as per the norms of the National Tiger Conservation Authority. This is the fourth sanctuary for the big cats in the State.

As Sathy forest division is a vast area, a request was made to create another division and the Asanur division was created by bifurcating Sathy division to manage the sanctuary in better way.

The sanctuary has over 25 tigers now and a nationwide enumeration of tigers will be held from Dec 16 to 23. In Sathyamangalam sanctuary, the enumeration will be undertaken by the staff with the help of some NGOs to determine the exact number of the big cats.

The sanctuary was segregated as core zone which is a thick forest area, where the animals are living, and around it is the buffer zone.

Development works and eco-tourism activities will be done in the buffer zone with the participation of tribals. Under the plan, another eco-density range would also be created.

While the existing range officials focus on protection of wild animals and the forest area, the new officials will involve in buffer zone activities with the support of village forest committees.

At present, anti-poaching squads and protection activities in the forests will be strengthened further by roping in tribals.

Now, the anti-poaching squad has 63 staff which will increase to 150, they said.

The fund to be allotted would also be used for the construction of an office building for the new division and also staff quarters. It would also be used to create water troughs and check dams. Eco-tourism projects would be envisaged in the coming years.