Tibbi's Rathi Kheda Village Turns Cantonment Amid Ethanol Factory Row

• A proposed 450 crore ethanol factory in Rathi Kheda village, Hanumangarh, faces strong farmer opposition over environmental concerns, leading to a halt in construction.
• Farmers fear the 1320 KLPD plant will cause severe groundwater and air pollution, impacting agriculture and health, despite the company's claims of modern, safe technology.
• Dune Ethanol Private Limited states the project will create 1500 jobs, boost the local economy by purchasing over 1000 crore rupees of crops, and operate with a Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) system.
• The conflict stems from a deep lack of trust, with villagers disbelieving company assurances about environmental safety and feeling their concerns are ignored.

Why It Matters: The conflict reveals deep distrust between locals and industry over environmental safety claims.