BHUBANESWAR: In a bid to keep human pressure off Similipal Biosphere Reserve, plans are afoot to strengthen both the resource and livelihood base of 1200- odd villages in and around the sanctuary area. A Rs 1.95-cr plan was placed before the State-Level Steering Committee that takes a call on development of biosphere. The committee, headed by the Chief Secretary, met here on Wednesday. Currently, there are four villages in the core area of the sanctuary and 57 in the buffer zone. Another 1,200 are within a 10 km radius of the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR). The steering committee suggested a few modifications to the existing action plan prepared by the Field Director of STR. The action plan aims at giving a boost to in situ conservation of both core and buffer zones so that the vast eco-system is not tampered. The Similipal Sanctuary is spread over 2220 sq km and its buffer zone's area stands at 1,194 sq km. "As part of the eco development plan, we have suggested initiatives which will reduce dependence of the inhabitants on the eco-system," STR Field Director Nagraj Reddy told this website's newspaper. This includes a range of irrigation and water harvesting structures in the buffer zone so as to meet the water demand of the inhabitants. Besides, an array of livelihood options through tuber crops and mushroom cultivation as well as poultry have been planned. Training and skill development exercises through eco-tourism are also part of the plan. During the meeting, Chief Secretary AK Tripathy suggested inclusion of more activities. The idea is to make the population self-sustaining so that their dependence on STR does not increase. In fact, the action plan has identified 25 villages for development as model villages. Micro-plans have been formulated for these villages basing on their socio-economic and resource profiles. Various administrative departments will be involved in implementation of the microplan for a year. This is for the first time that such an initiative has been proposed. "This will not only make the villages self-reliant but also provide direction to other protected areas of the State," Reddy said. In fact, the budget may be increased after the changes suggested at the State-level meeting. Once ratified by the State Government, it will be sent to the Ministry of Environment and Forests for sanction.