ildlife managers at the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) are gearing up to relocate as many as 807 families, Srinivas R. Reddy, Field Director of Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR), told The Hindu on Thursday.
MTR spread over 321 sq km area was first formed as a wildlife sanctuary in 1972. In 2007, it was declared a Tiger Reserve. MTR also has a forest department elephant camp where 27 elephants are being taken care of. Taking conservation of tiger population into account and to mitigate conflict situations, a relocation scheme titled ‘Golden Handshake’ was formulated under which each family would be given an alternative dwelling place and a compensation of Rs. 10 lakh.
At present, MTR has human habitations are in places such as Pennai, Nellikarai, Nagampalli, Mandakkarai, Puliampalayam, Mudukuzhi and Kudithagan settlements. The eight-year long efforts of the MTR management are taking a final shape with the relocation being planned in three phases.
A total of 235 families from Nellikarai will be relocated in Phase I for which NTCA has allocated Rs. 23.5 crore. As many as 255 families from Nagampalli, Mandakkarai and Puliampalayam habitations will be relocated in Phase II. Proposals have already been sent and field-level arrangements are ready and the process will begin once funds come in from National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Mr.Reddy said. On completion of relocating the 490 families in Phase I and Phase II, the MTR authorities will begin phase III involving 317 families.
For relocating these families, 284 hectares of land is being readied at Ayyankolli and Sannakolli in Cherangodu panchayat near Pandalur. As far as Phase III is concerned, families in Mudukuzhi and Kudithagan are living on revenue land and already the matter has been taken up with the Commissioner Land Administration. Steps are being taken to overcome the legal hitches and soon the third phase will also be also completed he added.
On completion of three phases, the entire region will be notified as core reserve and reserve forest area in the gazette, thereby enhancing conservation initiatives and preventing infiltration of strangers under the guise of villagers, forest officials said.
entire region will be notified as core reserve and reserve forest area in the gazette
