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Farmers hold ‘mahapanchayat’ against proposed ethanol plant in Rajasthan

Around 7,000 protesting farmers said that the factory would create pollution and contaminate groundwater in the area.

Written by: Parul

3 min readJaipurUpdated: Dec 18, 2025 06:53 AM IST

Farmers hold 'mahapanchayat' against proposed ethanol plant in Rajasthan

Farmer leaders including Rakesh Tikait took part in the protest.

Farmers from Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana on Wednesday gathered at Dhan Mandi in Hanumangarh for a mahapanchayat to protest against the establishment of a proposed ethanol factory at Tibbi Tehsil by a Chandigarh-based company. The farmer leaders have vowed to continue the agitation until the decision to set up the factory is rolled back.

Around 7,000 protesting farmers said that the factory would create pollution and contaminate groundwater in the area.

Farmer leaders including Rakesh Tikait took part in the protest.

More than 1400 police personnel were deployed to maintain law and order. Additional forces were called in from Bikaner division and police headquarters. Internet services remained suspended in the district today, and Section 163 of the CrPC was in effect.

Spokesperson of Bhartiya Kisan Union, Rakesh Tikait advised the protesters to keep their tractor bumpers strong, saying they would come in handy when the time comes. Rakesh Tikait said, “They say you are opposing development. We want to tell them that wherever the factory is built, the land, air, and water will be polluted. This factory is equivalent to 14 factories. Therefore, whatever decision the Tibbi struggle committee takes, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha is with them.”

However, after a two-hour discussion with the administration, today’s Mahapanchayat was concluded. Another Mahapanchayat will be held in Sangaria on January 7th.

Meanwhile, the Department of Forest and Environment has formed a committee to investigate potential groundwater contamination and pollution from the proposed facility.

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The committee will be headed by the Bikaner Division Commissioner, with the Special Secretary of Forest and Environment, being the member secretary. Additional members include the Hanumangarh District Collector, senior environmental engineers from the Pollution Control Board and the chief engineer of the Groundwater Department.

Farmer leader, Jagjit Singh, said that we have agreed to wait for the committee report. “We have also demanded to take back the FIR filed against more than 800 people. Officials have stated that they have written it to the state government regarding this and some decision will be taken soon,” said Jagjit.

Farmers are demanding the cancellation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the ethanol plant. They are also calling for the withdrawal of cases filed against farmers and action against the officials responsible for the clashes in Tibbi.

The protest against the project intensified in July when the company began constructing a boundary wall. On December 10, farmers organised a large assembly in front of the Tibbi SDM office. By evening, hundreds of farmers reached the factory site with tractors, demolished the boundary wall and clashed with the police. – With PTI Inputsinsura

Parul

Parul is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express in Chandigarh. She is a seasoned journalist with over 25 years of experience specializing in public health, higher education, and the architectural heritage of Northern India. Professional Profile Education: Graduate in Humanities with a specialized focus on Journalism and Mass Communication from Panjab University, Chandigarh. Career Path: She began her career covering local city beats and human interest stories before joining The Indian Express in 2009. Over the last decade and a half, she has risen to the rank of Principal Correspondent, becoming the publication’s primary voice on Chandigarh’s premier medical and academic institutions. Expertise: Her reporting is deeply rooted in the institutional dynamics of PGIMER (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) and Panjab University. She is highly regarded for her ability to navigate complex administrative bureaucracies to deliver student-centric and patient-centric news. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2024 - 2025) Her recent work highlights critical reporting on healthcare infrastructure, academic governance, and urban culture: 1. Public Health & PGIMER "PGIMER expands digital registry: Centralized patient records to reduce wait times by 40%" (Nov 20, 2025): A detailed look at the digital transformation of one of India's busiest medical institutes to tackle patient influx. "Robotic Surgery at PGI: Why the new urology wing is a game-changer for North India" (Oct 12, 2025): Reporting on the acquisition of state-of-the-art medical technology and its impact on affordable healthcare. "Shortage of life-saving drugs: Inside the supply chain crisis at government pharmacies" (Dec 5, 2025): An investigative piece on the logistical hurdles affecting chronic patients in the tri-city area. 2. Education & Institutional Governance "Panjab University Senate Election: The battle for institutional autonomy" (Dec 18, 2025): In-depth coverage of the high-stakes internal elections and the friction between traditional governance and central reforms. "Research funding dip: How PU’s science departments are navigating the 2025 budget cuts" (Nov 5, 2025): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing researchers and the impact on India's global academic ranking. 3. Art, Culture & Heritage "Le Corbusier’s legacy in peril: The struggle to preserve Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex" (Dec 22, 2025): A feature on the conservation efforts and the tension between urban modernization and UNESCO heritage status. "Chandigarh Art District: How street murals are reclaiming the city’s grey walls" (Oct 30, 2025): A cultural profile of the local artists transforming the aesthetic of the "City Beautiful." Signature Style Parul is known for her empathetic lens, often centering her stories on the individuals affected by policy—whether it is a student navigating university red tape or a patient seeking care. She possesses a unique ability to translate dense administrative notifications into actionable information for the public. Her long-standing beat experience makes her a trusted source for "inside-track" developments within Chandigarh’s most guarded institutions. X (Twitter): @parul_express ... Read More

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