Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy has written to Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, urging the state government to conduct an immediate assessment into allegations of irregularities at the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL).
In his letter, Kishan Reddy called for a thorough examination to determine whether the allegations have any basis and to assess whether adequate safeguards, internal controls and monitoring mechanisms are in place to ensure the effective functioning of the state owned coal mining company.
The Union Minister stressed the importance of maintaining Transparency, Accountability and Operational efficiency in SCCL, which is jointly owned by the Telangana government (51%) and the Central government (49%). He emphasized that the company plays a vital role in the region’s economy and provides livelihoods to thousands of employees.
The development comes amid growing political controversy over SCCL, with opposition leaders alleging financial irregularities and mismanagement within the organisation. Recently, demands have been raised for an independent probe into alleged discrepancies related to coal stocks and other operational matters.
While seeking an urgent review, Kishan Reddy urged the Telangana government to take necessary steps to protect the credibility and long term interests of SCCL. He also highlighted the need to strengthen institutional mechanisms to prevent any future lapses.
The Telangana government has not yet issued a detailed response to the Union Minister’s letter. However, the issue is expected to intensify political debate in the state, with calls from various quarters for a transparent inquiry into the allegations.
SCCL, one of India’s oldest coal producing companies, remains a crucial contributor to the country’s energy sector and a major source of employment across several districts of Telangana.
