BHUBANESWAR: The state government on Saturday approved a comprehensive management plan for Similipal Biosphere at a meeting headed by chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi .

The implementation of the management plan, which has already been prepared, will cost Rs 24.40 crore in five years. Around Rs five crore has been sanctioned for the current fiscal year.

Official sources said the management plan will primarily address a host of livelihood problems for forest dependence villagers living in buffer and transition areas (outside the buffer but within the biosphere).

At present, there is one village in the core area, 64 in the buffer zone and 1,200 in the transitional area. "The management plan will soon be sent to the Centre for final approval. The Centre will contribute 60% of the fund," said deputy director of Similipal Tiger Reserve , J Pati.

