NASHIK, April 29: Local farmers here are up in arms against a government proposal to build a bird sanctuary at the Nandur-Madhyameshwar dam with leaders of the Shetkari Sanghatana and sarpanches maintaining that the "ornamental" project will displace local adivasis and dalits from their land.The farmers, from about a dozen villages in Niphad taluka of Nashik district, say they will launch an agitation to oppose the project if the government doesn't reconsider its proposal.Local Shetkari Sanghatana leader Jaywant Bhosale, who has submitted memoranda to various authorities, says the government has already issued land acquisition notices in the villages around the Nandur-Madhyameshwar dam "for the sake of birdwatchers who come from cities like Mumbai to gaze at birds in their spare time". The land so acquired currently feeds about 40,000 farmers, Bhosale says.Moreover, the feathered species which visit the site are the common varieties, like crows, sparrows, ducks and herons, headds, saying he can't imagine why people would want to watch birds they can find on their windowsills. And, there aren't even enough of those. Also, migratory birds like the Siberian crane and flamingoes do not patronise the venue, defeating the very purpose, he says.The birds are also a nuisance, destroying crops and forcing farmers to maintain a constant vigil during the season, which lasts for a couple of months - between December and February - Bhosale adds.Deputy Conservator of Forests (Nashik Wildlife) S G Joshi however begs to differ. The sanctuary is essential for maintaining the ecological balance and as per government norms, four per cent of forest land has to be utilised as a wildlife sanctuary, he says by way of justification. Besides, Nandur-Madhyameshwar is an ideal location and if marshy land is included in the sanctuary's precincts, more birds, especially the aquatic variety, will make it their home, Joshi adds. And, contrary to the farmers' claims, Joshi says about 40 to 50 species ofbirds, in thousands, would visit the sanctuary.Joshi also told The Indian Express that the government had announced plans for the sanctuary in in l986 proposing to cover 100 sq km. Of the total area notified, 20 sq km already belonged to the government and farmers were allowed to till the land on an annual contract basis in the remaining 80 sq km. About five years ago, the government stopped renewing the contracts, but the farming continued, he claims.Joshi says the Niphad sub-divisional officer was asked to inquire into the proposal to acquire the remaining 80 sq km of land and his report is expected soon.For the last five years, farmers have kept mum, following non-renewal of the lease of the "goal pera" land, which is silted land in the catchment area. They continued growing sugarcane here all these years despite attempts to rope in local Shiv Sena MLA Mandakini Kadam to stall acquisition of private land in the vicinity.Sources say the farmers are being used as a front to oppose theproject by sugarcane cultivators, who derive benefits from the land under acquisition and to get revenue land on lease.Cultivators would lose fertile land as the entire area would be barricaded, preventing the rest of the land being used as grazing pastures.
