JAIPUR: The Rs 450-crore ethanol project being developed by a private company in Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh district is likely to wind up operations in the state once procedural formalities for relocating the project to Madhya Pradesh are completed.Work on the project was halted weeks after violent protests by farmers over fear of the plant damaging soil fertility and increasing pollution. Cleared under the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress govt in 2023, the project hit trouble in Dec 2025 amid allegations that effluents and industrial waste would likely contaminate farmland and groundwater.A company representative said, “Given the circumstances, continuing work here is not feasible. We will comply with all procedures required for relocation.”The plant is being developed by Chandigarh-based Dune Ethanol Private Limited at Hanumangarh’s Rathi Khera village. Spread over 40 acres (16.19 hectares), it was scheduled to produce 1,320 KLPD of grain-based ethanol and include a 40 MW co-generation power plant. The company planned to use rice, maize and straw sourced locally.tnn
