JAIPUR: Farmers in Rathi Kheda village of Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh district continue to oppose the proposed ethanol factory and plan to intensify their agitation through sustained collective action.
On Wednesday, the third mahapanchayat in the past month was held in Sangaria town, drawing a large turnout of farmers and villagers.
Thousands of farmers from across Hanumangarh district, as well as neighbouring Haryana and Punjab, participated in the gathering. During the mahapanchayat, protesters expressed strong resentment against the state government and the district administration over the proposed ethanol plant.
The farmers reiterated their key demands, including the immediate cancellation of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed for the factory and the withdrawal of all cases registered against farmers during earlier phases of the protest.
Anticipating a large gathering, the administration remained on high alert all through Wednesday. In view of the arson and unrest reported after the December 10 mahapanchayat, and to prevent any breakdown of law and order, internet services were suspended in the Sangaria area from Tuesday evening until midnight on Wednesday. Section 163 was also imposed in the area as a precautionary measure.
During the mahapanchayat, the district administration invited farmer leaders for talks in an attempt to defuse tensions. However, the farmer leaders refused to engage in dialogue, stating that no discussions would be held unless their demands regarding the cancellation of the MoU and withdrawal of cases were accepted.
Addressing the gathering, farmers asserted that the ethanol factory would adversely affect land, water resources, and the environment, and said they would not tolerate the project under any circumstances.
From the mahapanchayat platform, farmer leaders announced that the agitation would be intensified in the coming days. They declared that the next mahapanchayat will be held in Talwara, in the same district, on February 11, and warned that protests would continue until their demands are met.
The mahapanchayat in Sangaria concluded peacefully after the announcement of the next phase of the movement. The administration is now closely watching the situation as farmers prepare to escalate their protest in the weeks ahead
The farmers opposing the ethanol factory proposed in the Tibbi area allege that the project will pose serious environmental risks and adversely affect agricultural land in the region. The district administration, however, maintains that the factory will generate employment opportunities and contribute to industrial development. Protesters remain unconvinced, insisting that the project threatens their land, environment, and livelihoods, and have vowed to continue their agitation until the proposal is withdrawn.
