India, Aug. 29 -- Hyderabad Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), a public sector coal mining company owned by the Telangana government, has taken a significant step towards diversifying into gold and copper mineral exploration in Karnataka's Devadurga block.

Telangana deputy chief minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who visited the Devadurga gold-copper block in Raichur district on Friday, directed the Singareni officials to expedite exploration activities and use advanced technologies to assess the quantity and quality of the mineral deposits.

SCCL secured the exploration rights for the Devadurga block through an auction conducted by the Central government. On Thursday, Vikramarka formally launched SCCL's gold and copper explorat...