A proposed grain-based ethanol distillery in Telangana's Vikarabad district is facing significant opposition from local residents and activists who fear it will cause severe environmental damage and water scarcity. The project, planned by Suvira Bio Fuels Private Limited in Mominpet, has sparked concerns about pollution and its impact on agriculture and public health, setting the stage for a crucial public hearing later this month.
Project Details and Environmental Assessment
Suvira Bio Fuels Private Limited aims to establish a 60 KLPD (kilo litres per day) grain-based distillery for ethanol production on a 10.33-acre plot in Mominpet village and mandal. According to the executive summary of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, the total project cost is estimated at around Rs 99.58 crore.
The project's regulatory journey began when the state-level Environment Impact Assessment Authority granted approval for its Terms of Reference (ToR) on February 23, 2025. Subsequently, a pre-project baseline study was conducted between March and May 2025, forming the basis for the prepared EIA and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) report. The company states it will implement safety features and has prepared a risk assessment and disaster management plan, acknowledging that accidents, while unplannable, must be prepared for.
Local Opposition and Grave Concerns
The planned facility has drawn fierce criticism from the community and environmental advocates. Y Geetha, the state secretary of the Progressive Organisation of Women (POW), has been a vocal opponent, demanding the project be scrapped entirely. She warns that the plant would render the area "unliveable" and has called for widespread opposition.
Geetha's primary concerns revolve around pollution and resource depletion. She alleges the factory would release toxic pollutants, contaminating the region's land, water, and air. Specific warnings have been issued about hazardous gases like formaldehyde and methanol, which could lead to respiratory problems and serious diseases, including cancer.
Furthermore, activists highlight the threat to water security. They claim the distillery would consume several lakh litres of water daily, depleting local tanks and wells. This, they argue, would leave insufficient water for irrigation in the agriculture-dependent region, leading to crop losses and directly threatening the livelihoods of farmers and agricultural labourers.
The Upcoming Public Hearing and Future Steps
A pivotal moment in the project's approval process is scheduled for December 30, when a public hearing will be held at Mominpet. This hearing is a statutory requirement for obtaining environmental clearance, allowing the community to formally voice its objections.
Geetha and other opponents are urging residents, representatives from people's organisations, political parties, and environmental experts to attend this hearing and collectively oppose the distillery. The outcome of this hearing will significantly influence the final decision of the environmental authorities regarding the plant's future.
The situation in Mominpet underscores the growing tension between industrial development, particularly in the biofuel sector, and environmental conservation and community welfare in rural Telangana. The December 30 hearing is now a focal point for this conflict.
