Karwar: Of around 3,000 families in the Kali Tiger Reserve (KAT), over 600 have voluntarily come forward to move out of the reserve, Chief Conservator of Forests and Director of KAT Sreenivasulu informed the Uttara Kannada District Relocation Committee.

At a meeting of the committee held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Ujjwal Kumar Ghosh on Tuesday, Sreenivasulu said no family is forced to move out and they are relocating by themselves.

About 700 families are targeted to be convinced to shift voluntarily from the tiger reserve. So far, more than 100 families have moved out. Each adult member in a family is given `10 lakh as compensation to shift out of the reserve and their lands are being brought under the Forest Department, he said.

When the DC asked where the families are shifting to, the CCF said there are moving towards other villages, constructing houses and purchasing agriculture land. The DC said the project affected people would be supported by converting their agriculture land into non-agriculture. He also said a recommendation would be sent to the state government to increase the compensation as the land rate has doubled.

Relocation will eradicate poverty, says CCF
Sreenivasulu said relocation will help eradicate poverty among the people living in the tiger reserve. “Families are living there with just a piece of land. Their earnings are insufficient to make ends meet. Though basic amenities are provided to such hamlets, it will not improve their standard of living. When they move to urban areas, their children will get better opportunities for education and jobs. Hence, the families living in the tiger reserve are being persuaded to shift voluntarily,” he added.