Udhagamandalam: The Madumalai Wildlife Sanctuary in the hilly Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu would soon be declared a "buffer zone" to protect its fragile ecology.

Construction of dwelling units and industries and felling of trees would be banned within a radius of eight to10 kms in the buffer zone, district collector Supriya Sahu told reporters hereon July 11.

On the tribal settled for years in the sanctuary area, she said the government was willing to provide alternative land to the extent of 700 acres for their rehabilitation.

She said the district had taken up welfare schemes for the benefit of six tribal communities with Central assistance. As part of this, a five-year plan had been chalked out at a cost of Rs 27.85 crore for the up-liftment of todas, kotas, panyas, irulas, kurumba and kattu nayakans.

Referring to a rare disease "sickle cell anemia" detected among the kurumbas and panyas in the Gudur region, Sahu said about 2,000 people had been found to be suffering from it.

Medicines had already been distributed through non-governmental organisations (NGOs). A sum of Rs 6 lakh had been earmarked for eradication of this disease, she added.

PTI