Hanumangarh (Rajasthan): A major development came late last night in the prolonged protest by farmers and villagers opposing the proposed 40 MW Dune Ethanol Plant in Rathikhera Gram Panchayat of Hanumangarh district.
Construction of the Rs. 450-crore project has been temporarily suspended following a high-level meeting at the District Collectorate auditorium, where the government decided to order a comprehensive inquiry into the plantโs environmental feasibility, reported The Tribune.
The development comes a day after Sangaria MLA and State Youth Congress president, along with several other protesters, were injured during a police lathi charge at a Mahapanchayat. The issue was subsequently raised in the Lok Sabha by MP Kuldeep Indora, who demanded a review of the project.
Opposition to the ethanol plant has been ongoing since last year. The previous Congress government had signed a memorandum of understanding with a private company for the project. Although land conversion was completed in 2023, protests erupted soon after construction began in 2024.
On November 19, a large police force reached the protest site early in the morning, removed demonstrators, and dismantled their tents. Tensions escalated on December 10 when thousands of farmers gathered for a Mahapanchayat in Tibbi and attempted to enter the plant premises. Police responded with a lathi charge, after which the crowd set several vehicles ablaze and damaged others. The farmersโ action committee alleged that existing ethanol plants were causing environmental pollution and adversely impacting public health, as per the media report.
The meeting at the District Collectorate, which continued late into the night, was attended by Additional Director General of Police VK Singh, Bikaner Divisional Commissioner Vishram Meena, Hanumangarh District Collector Dr. Kushal Yadav, Inspector General Hemant Sharma, and other senior officials.
Representatives of the farmersโ action committee, including Inderjeet Singh Panniwala, Ramesh Bhadu Nagrana, Baltej Singh Masani, Mohan Singh Rathore Panniwala, Nitin Dhaka, and Ravindra, participated in the discussions. Political leaders present included BJP MLA Gurveer Singh Brar, former MLA Dharmendra Mochi, Congress leader Shabnam Godara, and Communist Party leader Jagjit Jaggi.
During the meeting, plant officials submitted a written assurance stating that no construction work would resume until the inquiry is completed. The agreement, signed by all stakeholders, is being seen as a major victory for the protesting farmers.
Earlier, farmers had announced plans to gherao the district collectorate on December 17, warning that the plant would worsen environmental pollution and pose serious health risks. With the inquiry now ordered, the company will be required to comply with environmental and safety standards before proceeding further.
The management had already clarified that there will be no pollution from the ethanol plant and that it will significantly benefit the farmers. Ethanol is highly advantageous, it not only raises farmersโ income but also supports the countryโs foreign-exchange reserves. Moreover, ethanol production promotes cleaner fuel alternatives, reduces dependence on imported crude oil, and contributes to environmental sustainability. It also creates new employment opportunities in rural areas and strengthens the overall agricultural economy. In this way, ethanol proves to be a key driver of both economic growth and environmental progress.
