Baripada, Sept. 26: Authorities of the Similipal Tiger Reserve are planning to shift the settlers, who still stay at Bakua and Kabatghai in the forest's critical core area.

Earlier, the authorities had successfully relocated the settlers of Jamunagarh from the core area.

"A plan is afoot to relocate the settlers of Bakua and Kabatghai. While there are about 18 to 20 families staying at Bakua, about 35 families occupy Kabatghai. Preliminary talks have been initiated with the settlers of Kabatghai," said honorary wildlife warden Bhanumitra Acharya, who had played an active role in convincing the settlers of Jamunagarh to move out of the core area.

"The displaced are very comfortable and happy at the new place where they have been settled. They are being given cooked food and would receive dry ration for about four months," he said.

Sagar Ho, 48, a displaced, who now lives at Nabra, said: "We are quite satisfied with the facilities that are being extended at Nabra. We love Similipal and we vacated our village for its betterment."

On September 9, 35 families consisting of 80 persons from Jamunagarh were shifted and relocated at Nabra in Udla. Under the rehabilitation scheme for the displaced, each adult above the age of 18 will be considered for compensation worth Rs 10 lakh in cash. The Mayurbhanj district administration will also provide pucca houses to the displaced under the Biju Housing Scheme.

The tiger reserve's deputy director Ajit Satpathy said: "The settlers who opt for cash, are not entitled to other benefits. But, the district administration is generous only to encourage the displaced and motivate others. Each of them is being given 10 decimals and a pucca house on that land. Their colonies will be given all other facilities."

"Further, in order to secure their livelihood, they will be accommodated in all future schemes to be executed under the integrated action plan. All eligible displaced have been disbursed Rs 10 lakh," he said.

The relocation initiative has been taken as the National Tiger Conservation Authority wants people to be relocated from the core area of the tiger reserve. In 2010, the residents from Jenabill of the forest had been shifted. "Although the authoritieshad considered Similipal for the status of a national park, a notification in this regard has not been issued till date because of the presence of these villages within the core area," said an official.

According to the Wildlife (Protection) Act and guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the core area of a tiger reserve should be kept inviolate and free from human habitations.