Hyderabad, July 14 (RAHNUMA): Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy on Tuesday described the newly allotted Tadicherla-II coal block as Telangana’s “crown jewel” and the largest coal block in South India, saying it will secure the future of Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) for the next 40 to 50 years.
Addressing the media during the BJP’s “Singareni Bharosa Yatra”, Reddy said the coal block, with estimated reserves of 350 million metric tonnes, has the potential to generate economic activity worth nearly Rs.1.20 lakh crore. BJP Legislative Party (BJLP) leader A Maheshwar Reddy, MLA Rama Rao, MLC Anji Reddy, former MP Seetaram Naik and a large number of BJP district leaders, cadre and supporters participated in the yatra.
Calling it the “Baahubali Coal Block”, he said the project would create around 2,000 permanent jobs and over 5,000 contract jobs besides generating thousands of indirect employment opportunities in transport, hospitality, logistics and allied sectors.
The Union Minister credited the Narendra Modi-led Central Government for ending nearly two decades of delay in allotting the coal block to SCCL. He urged Singareni management to secure all statutory clearances quickly and commence mining operations at the earliest. He accused the Telangana Congress government of pushing Singareni into financial distress by withholding nearly Rs.27,000 crore in pending dues.
Addressing Singareni workers during the BJP’s “Singareni Bharosa Yatra” in Ramagundam, Reddy alleged that around Rs.18,000 crore is pending from AP Genco for coal supplied by SCCL, while another Rs.6,000 crore remains unpaid towards power supply arrears. He claimed the delay in clearing dues has forced Singareni to borrow from banks even to pay employees’ salaries.
Questioning the state government, Reddy said the workers were only demanding their rightful dues and not any special financial package. He also accused both the previous BRS government and the present Congress government of neglecting the interests of Singareni.
Later in Bhupalpally, the Union minister shared breakfast with Singareni workers during his visit to the KTK-8 mine in Bhupalpally as part of the BJP’s Singareni Bharosa Yatra on Tuesday.
After inspecting the mine, the workers warmly welcomed the Union Minister and served him breakfast prepared by them. Reddy interacted with the workers, listened to their concerns and appreciated their affection.
