JAIPUR: The Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve, a sanctuary without tigers so far, will now get big cats from Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra for genetic diversity. The fifth meeting of the state board for wildlife, chaired by chief minister Vasundhra Raje, decided to introduce tigers in the reserve, brought from other states.

Carved out of Bhainsrogarh, Darrah, Rawatbhata and the ravines of Chambal, the park is a natural corridor for tigers migrating out of Ranthambore hills via Qualji, Ramgarh Vishdhari and Jawahar Sagar reserve. It currently has six villages, two of which are uninhabited.

"The villagers have to be rehabilitated but the positive development is that after hearing this they have been calling me up confirming their willingness to be re-located. They have volunteered to move out and be a part of the mainstream with adequate compensation and jobs," said Raj Kumar Rinwa, minister, forests and environment.

The tiger reserve is spread over 759 sq km between four districts of Kota, Bundi, Chittorgarh and Jhalawar near the Ranthambore tiger reserve. Nearly 417 sq km area has been earmarked here as the core tiger habitat, while 342.82 sq km has been notified as the buffer approved by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in 2013.

Among the other things suggested at the meeting to accelerate relocation of villages from protected areas was that at least one member from each family would be given priority in government employment and necessary amendments in subordinate service rules on age/education criteria.

Also, to protect the sanctity of the reserve, anti-poaching camps would be established in sensitive areas which would be funded under the corporate social responsibility. The issue of staff shortage in tiger reserves would be looked into and the staff would be adequately armed. There would also be a survey of illegal mines in periphery areas on priority basis by the forest department who would have to share this information with the department of mines. Besides, it was suggested by some members that a 'green cess' of 5% may be imposed on hotels.