Mumbai, July 17 -- Union Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy launched the Singareni Bharosa Yatra in Kothagudem and Manuguru and said the Centre allocated the Tadicherla-2 coal block to Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) with the company's long-term future in mind. The event drew Singareni workers, local residents and public representatives who had sought the block for nearly 20 years. The minister described the allocation as a strategic move to safeguard the public sector company.
He noted that the Supreme Court had cancelled earlier allocations after a coal scam worth about Rs 2.6 tn and that a 2014 directive required future allocations by auction. Nearly 11 years later Tadicherla-2 was the only block to be directly allotted to a public sector coal company. The minister said the move reflected the Centre's commitment to Telangana.
Kishan Reddy described Tadicherla-2 as a valuable asset with potential for coal production over 40 to 50 years and said new blocks are essential to sustain employment. He pointed to changes at SCCL, noting the labour force had fallen from around 70,000 to nearly 40,000 while more than 30,000 contract workers depended on the company. The minister warned that new reserves were needed to protect livelihoods.
He added that the Centre had allocated the Naini coal block in Odisha to Singareni to meet Telangana's power needs and cited this as federal support. The minister criticised both the previous BRS administration and the current State government for failing to clear dues totalling about Rs 540 bn. He urged the State to release the funds and said the sums were revenue earned by workers rather than charity.
At meetings with workers and local intellectuals the minister reiterated calls for prompt disbursal of dues and pledged continued Centre support for SCCL's development. He pressed the State government to convert assurances into action so Singareni could plan investment and operations with greater certainty. The Yatra was presented as an effort to reassure stakeholders about the company's future.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.