Hyderabad, Oct 14 — BRS Working President K. T. Rama Rao on Wednesday demanded an independent investigation into the alleged Rs 10,000-crore scam in Singareni Collieries Company Limited and warned that the BRS would intensify its agitation to protect workers’ rights and prevent privatisation of the public sector enterprise.
He accused Telangana's Congress Government led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy of encouraging corruption, commission-driven contracts and financial mismanagement in Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL).
Addressing the Singareni Karmika Garjana public meeting organised by the BRS at Godavarikhani in Peddapalli district, he alleged serious irregularities in the Naini coal block tenders, site visit certificates, opencast mine contracts, machinery procurement and other operations. He demanded a probe by the CBI or a sitting judge and questioned why the Centre had failed to initiate an independent investigation despite the serious allegations.
Referring to claims that cancellation of the Naini tenders had saved Rs 30,000 crore, the BRS leader asked who had allegedly sought to benefit from the deal and why the tender process had been repeatedly delayed. He alleged that the site visit certificate system was being misused and that tender decisions were benefiting contractors at the expense of Singareni.
Rama Rao accused the Congress Government of failing to safeguard the company’s financial interests. He claimed that Rs 6,317 crore had been diverted over two financial years and alleged that approximately 40 lakh metric tonnes of coal had gone missing. He demanded a comprehensive audit of the company’s accounts and disclosure of coal production, stock and transportation records.
The BRS leader further claimed that the State Government owed nearly Rs 60,000 crore to Singareni and demanded immediate clearance of the outstanding dues. He alleged that delayed payments were affecting the company’s operations and its ability to maintain essential mining equipment.
KTR strongly defended Singareni workers, accusing the Congress Government of failing to honour its commitments on profit-sharing benefits. He recalled that the KCR Government had increased workers’ profit share from 16 per cent to 32 per cent and demanded the release of their rightful share, bonuses and other pending benefits. He also called for the speedy resolution of issues concerning dependent employment, medical boards and land pattas.
“If the government fails to release the workers’ rightful profit share and bonus, we will lay siege to the residences of Congress MLAs and Ministers,” KTR warned.
Accusing both the Congress Government in Telangana and the BJP-led Central Government of failing to protect public sector interests, KTR cautioned against attempts to privatise Singareni. He said the company was built on generations of miners’ sacrifices and must remain a public sector institution serving Telangana and its people.
KTR declared that the BRS would continue its fight until the allegations of corruption were investigated, workers received their rightful benefits, and Singareni’s future was secured.
He called upon workers to unite against policies that threaten their livelihoods and the interests of the historic coal mining company.