Fresh protests erupted in Dilawarpur, a village in Telangana’s Nirmal district, on Wednesday as local residents staged a large demonstration against the construction of an ethanol factory along National Highway 61. This marked the second day of protests, prompting district authorities to halt construction work at the site.
According to the media report, Nirmal Collector Abhilasha Abhinav made the decision to suspend the construction after discussions with the villagers. She also informed the state government about the ongoing situation, as reported by local media.
The protests, fueled by growing opposition to the factory, intensified as tensions rose. On Tuesday, protesters staged a 10-hour road blockade on the Nirmal-Bhainsa section of NH 61, severely disrupting traffic. During the protest, Nirmal’s Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) was held at the site for nearly five hours. A group of protesters reportedly attacked the RDO’s vehicle, leading to the police transferring the officer to safety in another vehicle as the situation grew more tense.
The protest continued into the night, with demonstrators—including women and children—sitting on the highway in the cold until around 9:30 p.m. Some villagers were reportedly detained by local police for preventive measures.
The situation escalated further on Wednesday morning, as a group of angry protesters confronted police vehicles, demanding the release of local youths who had allegedly been detained.
To manage the growing unrest, a heavy police presence was deployed in Dilawarpur and around the ethanol factory construction site near the mandal headquarters.
Villagers from surrounding areas, including Gundampalli, Samundarpalli, Rathnapurkandli, and Dilawarpur, have been protesting the establishment of the ethanol factory, which was approved by the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government. The villagers claim that the factory poses health risks and could negatively impact their fertile agricultural lands.
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