The idea of this project is that no one should go into the forest. In some villages, the forest officials have bought a TV for the community; this keeps them entertained and out of the forest.
There are 182 villages surrounding the sanctuary. Inside the sanctuary, there are 8 settlements, which the forest officials treat as encroachments. These settlements have approach roads and are partially electrified.
Those villages which were there before 1980 have electricity. After that, the forest department did not allow them to put up new lines as they are dangerous to animals.
According to their own count, last year there were 29 Tigers here. According to the count of the Wild Life Institute of India there are only 9 Tigers here. Both figures cannot be proved as the counting methods are primitive and unscientific.
Photo courtesy: Tamil Nadu Tourism
Also read: The call of the wild 
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