Over the last few years, there has been a stiff opposition to ethanol factories from villagers in Telangana who are raising concerns of environmental pollution besides other reasons. The latest in the list is Pedda Dhanwada village of Jogulamba Gawal district in southern Telangana.
Hundreds of villagers from Pedda Dhanwada and surrounding 10 villages formed a committee and protested at the site of an upcoming ethanol factory. The atmosphere turned tense when the protesters turned their ire towards construction machinery and attacked the equipment and temporary structures. The protesters are demanding that the project be scrapped. Police officials reached the spot and brought the situation under control.
This is not the first time that Telangana state is seeing such protests. It all started after the Centre gave permissions to set up ethanol plants to private companies. One of the first ethanol plants came up at Chittanur village in Mahboobnagar district. The locals allegedly experienced pollution which affected their surroundings and greenery and raised an alarm.
Activists and locals allege that the factory had polluted Manne Vaagu (water body) which runs close to the plant. They complain that effluents were being dumped into the water body because of which the fish have died in large numbers. They also allege that people who got into the lake complained of skin infections. In the next few months, this village became a case study for activists and outside villagers who wanted to study the consequences of allowing an ethanol plant operate in their midst.
In Dilawarpur village, home to another ethanol plant, similar protests broke out leading to arrests and agitations. Civil society member, Ravi Kanneganti, Co-Convenor, Telangana People JAC who is backing the villagers cause and has been creating awareness on the issue, said that the issue is not limited to just air and water pollution.
“This is about food security as well. The manufacturers use rice or maize to produce ethanol and want it in large quantities. This would lead to more cultivation of these crops and affect other traditional crops like pulses. This will not even benefit local farmers as they want the produce at a cheaper price and not market price. The companies also assured local employment but they are hiring north Indians at lower salaries. Locals are robbed of employment opportunity. There are also studies that air pollution caused by ethanol factories cause cancer. The companies should also come clear on that aspect as well. The ethanol manufacturers have promised zero liquid discharge but if you visit the surroundings you will notice that the effluents are being let out,” he said.
In Telangana, ethanol factories are being rejected by villagers who fear the worst for them and their environment.
