Jhajjar, Haryana: The proposed 150 KLD grain-based ethanol distillery plant at Goria village in Haryana’s Jhajjar district has sparked strong opposition from residents of eight nearby villages, who allege that the project will lead to environmental degradation and threaten local livelihoods.
Villagers fear the plant will damage soil fertility, increase pollution, and disrupt agriculture in the region. In response, they have called for the immediate cancellation of the project and are preparing to escalate their protest if their demands are not addressed.
On Thursday, a panchayat was convened in Goria to discuss the issue. Residents from Goria, Bhadangi, Koharad, Mumtazpur, Lilodh, Khanpur, and other nearby villages participated in the four-hour meeting. A 20-member committee was formed to decide the next steps in the protest movement.
“We had previously approached district officials to raise our concerns, but our voices were ignored. So, we gathered representatives from eight villages to decide on a united response. The ethanol plant will harm our region’s rich farmland and rural economy,” said a protester, reported The Tribune.
Goria Sarpanch Ajit Singh told The Tribune that the meeting saw widespread participation, including a notable turnout of women, reflecting the seriousness of the issue.
During the panchayat, villagers alleged that the land for the plant was acquired without disclosing plans to build a facility. They also suspect that the land use designation was changed later without public consultation.
In response to the accusations, district authorities released a statement denying the claims. According to Jhajjar Deputy Commissioner S.R. Patil, a public hearing was conducted on May 20 as part of the environmental clearance process.
“A total of 138 people from Goria, Bambulia, Bazidpur Thappa, Birohar, Belochpura, Bhindawas, and other villages attended the hearing. The responses provided by the project representatives satisfied participants from the nearby villages,” the statement noted.
