Convenor of the local action committee, Jaywant Bhosale, told The Indian Express, that the sanctuary would displace about 2,000 families dependent on about 1,000 hectares. He said the all-party action committee had given the government an ultimatum to withdraw the proposal by August 15, failing which farmers would stage a rasta roko in Niphad and a rail roko at the Niphad railway station.

The committee is demanding that the farmers tilling the land since the last four to five decades be given land titles. It will settle for nothing less than the rehabilitation of the affected farmers if the government goes ahead with the proposal.

The government land in the catchment area of the heavily silted dam was first granted on lease for farming for 10 years in 1973-74.Since then, the lease has been renewed periodically till 1992, when the government refused to renew it any further.

The government had announced the creation of a bird sanctuary in 1986, but it has not acquired land for the project. About two months ago, some officials visited the site to inform the farmers that the land would be acquired.

The farmers claim the marshy land only attracts common aquatic birds like ducks and cranes and that the sanctuary is being created for the recreation of city dwellers at the cost of the local farmers.

The government officials, however, say the area attracts flamingoes and Siberian cranes, though only for some months of the year.

ONIONS CONTINUE TO COST MORE: WHOLESALE prices of onions at the Lasalgoan Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) continue to remain high, with the best quality crop fetching up to Rs 911 per quintal today. The average price was Rs 751.

However, prices fell marginally today. On Wednesday, the best quality onions fetched up to Rs961 per quintal, the price for average quality soaring to Rs 851. The market yard received about 9,900 quintals for auction. Prices have shot up since last week following the Gujarat cyclone which has destroyed the crop (standing and stored) there, according to APMC officials. Inclement weather and untimely rains have also damaged onion stocks in Nashik district.

Prices had stabilised at around Rs 300-400 per quintal at Lasalgaon after the arrival of the late kharif crop. The current spurt, though, is likely to continue till the next kharif crop is harvested.

SEMINAR ON AIRCRAFT UPDATE: The Aeronautical Society of India (ASI) and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) have jointly organised a national seminar on `Aircraft Update' on June 27 at the HAL township at Ojhar.

The seminar will bring representatives of various national establishments together to deliberate on aircraft update requirements and identify the expertise and resources available in an endeavour to update military and civil aircraft.Experts from defence and other allied establishments will present about 25 papers.