"We have started the process of rehabilitation of two of the villages in the tiger reserve," Forest Minister L.N. Dave told IANS.

Authorities are removing juliflora trees, better known as babool in northern India, from land where the families are to be shifted. "We are confident of completing this in two months," he said.

Dave said that initially over 150 families living in Bhagani and Kankarwari villages would be rehabilitated in Barod Rundh village near Behror in Alwar district.

"The work to open bank accounts for these families has started and maps of their houses have been made," he added. Later, two more villages, Umari and Kirisana, will be moved.

The shifting of the four villages is part of the project to rehabilitate tigers in Sariska. The government plans to relocate all the 15 villages situated inside the reserve in a bid to save the dwindling tiger population.

The government has identified 22,267 hectares in Barod Rundh village to provide new homes to the villagers.

Earlier, the forest department and the government had faced criticism over the disappearance of tigers from Sariska.

A report in March 2005 by the Wildlife Institute of India confirmed that there were indeed no tigers left in the Sariska reserve.

The reserve was established in 1978, having once been a hunting preserve for the royalty.

At present it covers an area of 881 sq km of undulating plateaus and wide valleys, with a vegetation mostly of dry deciduous forest. Poachers have also targeted other animals such as leopards.