KTR Accuses Congress of Singareni Privatisation Plot
BRS leader KT Rama Rao alleges a conspiracy to privatise Singareni and claims 40 lakh metric tonnes of coal have gone missing under the Congress government.
In a blistering attack on the ruling Congress administration, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President KT Rama Rao has alleged a massive conspiracy to privatise the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL). Speaking at the Singareni Karmika Garjana in Ramagundam, Rao claimed that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is working to hand over the state’s vital public-sector coal miner to private interests, leading the institution toward financial ruin.
Allegations of Missing Coal and Financial Chaos
The BRS leader did not stop at political rhetoric, raising serious allegations regarding financial irregularities and missing resources. Rao claimed that a staggering 40 lakh metric tonnes of coal have vanished from the inventory, questioning the accountability behind this massive discrepancy.
“Who is responsible for this coalmaal-golmaal?” Rao asked the gathering, further alleging that Singareni is currently under the influence of Sudhini Srujan Reddy, whom he identified as the Chief Minister's brother-in-law.
Highlighting the operational decline, Rao pointed to the state's power sector setbacks. He noted that while the Damaracherla Thermal Power Plant was built with a 4,000 MW capacity, the current government is struggling to generate even 400 MW. He also cited a massive financial burden, stating that Singareni management has informed them that the government owes the company ₹60,000 crore.
Pressure on the Centre to Intervene
Rao also directed his fire toward the BJP-led central government. He questioned why Union Minister Kishan Reddy has not ordered an independent central probe into the alleged missing coal, especially since the Centre holds a 49% equity stake in Singareni.
“We demanded Union Minister Kishan Reddy order an investigation into the missing coal. Instead, he wrote to Revanth Reddy asking him to investigate the matter,” Rao remarked, questioning why the Union Minister is leaving the investigation to the very state government facing the allegations.
Congress Fires Back: Blaming BRS Governance
The allegations have ignited a fierce political tug-of-war. Earlier in September, Congress MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy hit back at the BRS, arguing that the deterioration of Singareni and the state's power projects is a direct result of the previous BRS administration's tenure.
Reddy alleged that between 2014 and 2023, the BRS government failed to start any new mines, while 18 existing mines were closed after their ore reserves were exhausted. He further claimed that the BRS government had auctioned mines that should have belonged to Singareni to private players connected to their own associates.
The Congress MP also highlighted the financial state of the utility sector, stating:
- Singareni had accumulated ₹35,000 crore in debt to the state DISCOMs.
- The resulting bankruptcy of DISCOMs has contributed to the state's massive debt.
- The total debt of Telangana has reached approximately ₹8 lakh crore.
Reddy concluded by accusing the BRS of prioritizing the empowerment of their own families and political associates over the welfare of the people of Telangana.