Political Tug‑of‑War Delays HPCL Rajasthan Refinery, Yet Capacity Remains 9 MMTPA

From its inception, the HRRL megaproject was entangled in political controversy. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s Congress government first announced the refinery at Baytu’s Lilala, prompting land‑lords to buy thousands of acres in anticipation of price hikes. Farmer protests, demands for ₹1 crore per bigha, and a subsequent relocation to Pachpadra ignited fierce criticism from local MLA Colonel Sonaram Chaudhary, who vowed to give his life to keep the plant at its original site. The resignation of Revenue Minister Hemaram Chaudhary turned the refinery into the most debated infrastructure project in the state. Nonetheless, the design retains a 9 MMTPA capacity and a top‑tier Nelson Complexity Index, positioning it among the most versatile refineries capable of handling heavy, low‑quality crude.