Charcoal Plant Sparks Outrage in Rajhana Panchayat; Locals Demand Immediate Shutdown

Rajhana, November 10, 2025 — Diary Times | Kartik Sharma

Tensions flared during the monthly meeting of the Rajhana Panchayat after residents raised strong objections to the establishment of a charcoal plant in the neighbouring Badagaon area. Locals accused the authorities of passing the No Objection Certificate (NOC) without informing or consulting the village community.

The villagers, led by several local women, demanded that the plant be shut down immediately, citing severe air pollution and health hazards. Panchayat Pradhan Reena Thakur faced tough questions from residents who asked why the NOC was approved without public notice.

In response, Reena assured the gathering that she would call a special meeting to discuss the issue and, if necessary, approach the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to ensure the matter is properly addressed.

Local resident Asha Sharma warned that villagers would stage a collective strike outside the SPCB office if the factory continued to operate. Another villager, Radha Sharma, said the smoke emitted from the factory was making it difficult to breathe and had turned animal fodder black, adversely affecting livestock health.

She added, “We are all farmers, and this pollution is ruining our crops. If the vegetables become unsellable, how will we survive? We request Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh to take immediate action.”

Sources indicate that the factory management is considering installing pollution-control filters to reduce emissions. However, residents of Rajhana Panchayat remain united in their stance — they want the factory shut down altogether, not just temporary fixes.

The villagers have urged both the state government and environmental authorities to intervene before the situation worsens.