A violent protest broke out on Wednesday, June 4, in Pedda Dhanwada village of Jogulamba Gadwal district, Telangana, as furious farmers opposed the resumed construction of an ethanol factory. The scene turned chaotic when demonstrators, armed with sticks, attacked construction officials, hurled stones, and overturned vehicles at the site. Heavy police deployment was witnessed as authorities struggled to control the unrest, which erupted over growing fears of land loss and potential health hazards due to pollution from the proposed plant.
This isn’t the first time the ethanol project has triggered public outcry. The protests have been simmering for months, with a significant escalation seen earlier this year in January when around 1,500 farmers launched a week-long hunger strike. Local political leaders, including Mahbubnagar MLC Challa Venkatram Reddy and Alampur MLA Vijayudu, had visited the site then, expressing solidarity with the farmers and assuring them that construction would be halted—an assurance that now stands broken, further inflaming tensions.
Farmers assert that beyond the immediate threat of being rendered landless, the ethanol plant’s operations could severely pollute the surrounding environment, increasing the risk of disease in nearby villages. The latest developments reflect a deepening crisis, with trust between villagers and officials eroding rapidly. Despite earlier governmental promises, the factory’s resumption has reignited the movement, highlighting the urgent need for dialogue and sustainable policy measures.
