Ethanol factory: Nirmal farmers withdraw protest

Members of the delegation told the media that the protest was temporarily called off.

Nirmal: Farmers withdrew their protest against the establishment of an ethanol factory, following an order issued by Collector Abhilasha Abhinav and her assurance to halt work on the project at Dilawarpur mandal centre on Wednesday.

The farmers, who insisted for a written assurance over the stoppage of the work, agreed to withdraw their protest after the Collector promised to halt the work and informed that the issue was already brought to the notice of the government, which directed the management of the factory to immediately stop the project. A delegation of farmers held consultations with the Collector at the Collectorate.

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Members of the delegation told the media that the protest was temporarily called off. They would not stage protests till the government permanently shifted the factory from between Dilawarpur and Gundampalli villages to another place. They assured to extend support to the government if it fulfilled their demand and to the recently concluded socio-economic survey.

They also wanted the government to withdraw cases booked against farmers who were involved in the protest and to reinstate a government teacher Vijay Kumar who was suspended for extending his solidarity to the stir of the farmers. They thanked the Collector and Superintendent of Police Dr Janaki Sharmila. They later celebrated the announcement of the government by bursting crackers in Dilawarpur.

The Collector said the factory project was kept in abeyance and construction work was halted as per instructions of the government.