Hyderabad: The Telangana government may go ahead with the construction of the ethanol plant in Pedda Dhanwada, reported Telangana Today.
As per the news report by Telangana Today, Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu stated on Tuesday that the plant would be set up, saying, “It could get delayed by a few days, but the ethanol plant will be established.” He added that the Central government has been encouraging the establishment of ethanol units and that the State is supporting the project while following all required Central guidelines.
He accused the Opposition, particularly the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), of provoking farmers with ulterior motives instead of engaging with their concerns.
“If there are any violations of rules laid down by the Centre, we won’t back the project,” the minister said. He also claimed that the plant would not harm the environment, as it would use modern technology. “Farmers were taken on a visit to see how the plant works and most were convinced, except for a few who are protesting after being misled,” he stated.
“I urge the Opposition not to politicize this issue. They should avoid damaging the state’s reputation and hindering investments and progress,” he stated, adding that the Congress party had supported the state government on multiple occasions in the past and had “never obstructed industrialization.”
For nearly a year, villagers from Pedda Dhanwada and 10 nearby villages have been protesting the plant. They fear it will damage the environment, pollute water sources, and reduce already limited groundwater levels.
Earlier this year, a similar protest in Dilawarpur in Nirmal district led to the cancellation of another proposed ethanol plant. Since then, the Pedda Dhanwada movement has gained widespread support from the public and political leaders, including members of the Opposition BRS party, who have visited the protest site.
When construction work resumed last week, angry farmers from nearby areas gathered at the site, protested and forced workers to flee. Despite a police presence, the crowd overwhelmed security forces and blocked the road while demanding an immediate stop to the work.
