Balasore, Sept. 1: Similipal Tiger Reserve authorities will shortly issue identity cards to all native dwellers within the limits of its sanctuary, which will distinguish them from trespassers.

The authorities believe it will help them prevent unlawful activities, mainly poaching and smuggling of timber and forest produce, in the zone.

Every native dweller, who is more than five-years old, will get an identity card from the Similipal forest division. The process will start on September 5 and will continue for three months. There are about 10,000 to 12,000 persons settled in this reserve forest area of Mayurbhanj district.

“The basic motive behind this identification exercise is to restrict any further settlements inside sanctuary area as well to control movement of trespassers. We will also be able to identity illegal settlers and monitor the movement of each dweller,” said Bhanoomitra Acharya, the honorary wildlife warden of Baripada.

He is hopeful that it would curb illegal activities if implemented properly. People living in the sanctuary’s buffer patch under the territorial zone, Karanjia, Rairangpur and Baripada generally use the entry gates at Tulasibana, Kaliani and Pithabata.

The regional chief conservator of forests, Anup Nayak, said: “The department has undertaken this massive exercise to identify genuine residents with the assistance of revenue department and wildlife activists. After the identification process, the settlers will be issued identity cards following approval from the gram sabha. We have began training for the identification survey.”

However, experts pointed out that the sanctuary authorities had failed to remove settlers from the core area of the sanctuary. About 400 people continue to live in the three villages of Jamuna, Kabatghai and Bakua despite the authorities promising them to rehabilitate elsewhere.

“The dwellers of Jamuna and Kabatghai have agreed to the rehabilitation offer. But in the case of Bakua, the achievement is partial,” said Sanjukta Basha, another honorary wildlife warden of Baripada.

Under the rehabilitation package, each displaced person is assured a house, land and other facilities.

A rehabilitation package of Rs 10 lakh is given to each family, while each person above 18 years is considered as a family unit. A family either can opt for cash or seek house, agricultural land and other facilities within that amount.