Bhatinda: The demand to drop the proposed ethanol project at Rathikhera village in Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh district is gaining strength, with the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of more than 200 farmer groups, supporting the call at a mahapanchayat held near the deputy commissioner’s office on Wednesday, reports The Times of India.
At the gathering, protesters gave the state government 20 days to cancel the memorandum of understanding for the project at Rathikhera in Tibbi tehsil. The project is proposed by Chandigarh-based Dune Ethanol Private Limited. Farmers warned that if their demand is not met, another mahapanchayat will be held in Hanumangarh on January 7, 2026. The project is currently on hold following sustained opposition from local farmers.
State authorities, facing continued protests, assured farmers that their concerns would be examined. The project developer has also announced that no work will be taken up until the issues raised by villagers are addressed.
BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan said farmers from Punjab were standing in solidarity with those in Rajasthan. He said such ethanol projects could harm food safety, affect human and animal health, and pollute water and air, adding that similar plants elsewhere had caused damage to groundwater.
SKM leader Rakesh Tikait also said the organisation would continue to support the farmers opposing the project.
Large numbers of farmers gathered to protest the proposed 1,320 kilolitres-per-day grain-based ethanol plant and a 40 MW power generation unit planned on nearly 40 acres of land.
Villagers and farmers had earlier formed a group called the “Factory Bhajao, Area Bachao Sangharsh Committee” in August 2024 to oppose the project. Activists were detained during protests on November 18 and December 10, 2025. Farmers allege that the plant could lead to depletion of groundwater, pollution of soil and water, poor air quality, and long-term harm to health, agriculture and livelihoods.
