The demand to shelve the proposed ethanol project at Rathikhera village in Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan has started growing, with Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), a group involving over 200 farm groups, backing the call at a mahapanchyat held near the deputy commissioner’s office on Wednesday.
The protesters served an ultimatum of 20 days to the state govt to cancel the MoU for the project at Rathikhera in Tibbi tehsil, proposed to be set up by a Chandigarh-based company, Dune Ethanol Private Limited, or another mahapanchayat would be organised at Hanumangarh on Jan 7, 2026.
The project is on hold due to the opposition by local farmers.
Rajasthan authorities, under pressure by protests, assured to look into the concerns of farmers, and the project proponent announced not to go ahead with any activity until their issues are resolved.
BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan told TOI, “Punjab farmers are fully standing with their Rajasthan counterparts in opposing the ethanol project that will contaminate food and pose serious health risks to humans and animals, apart from contaminating water and air quality. Ethanol plants push the waste into groundwater, as witnessed in Zira.”
SKM leader Rakesh Tikait said the unit is with the farmers from Rajasthan.
Many farmers assembled to protest the setting up of the 1320 KLPD grain-based ethanol plant along with a 40 MW co-generation power plant on nearly 40 acres of land.
The villagers and farmers formed a panel, “Factory Bhajao, Area Bachao Sangharsh Committee”, against the proposed project in Aug 2024. On Nov 18 and Dec 10, 2025, a number of activists were detained following protests. They allege the plant will allegedly lead to groundwater depletion, soil and water contamination, and air pollution, which may negatively impact health, crop yields, and long-term farming viability.
