Comprehensive Plan to Strengthen Singareni– Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka

Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka gives clear directions at meeting with General Managers

Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka has called for a comprehensive action plan to strengthen Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) and ensure employment security for future generations. He directed officials to reduce coal production costs, improve productivity, develop new mines and expand into the exploration of critical minerals.The Deputy Chief Minister was speaking at a direct interaction session with 66 General Managers of Singareni Collieries Company Limited at Praja Bhavan in Hyderabad on Sunday. The meeting was chaired by Singareni CMD and Chairman Dr. Buddha Prakash Jyoti.

The meeting comprehensively discussed the company’s performance, coal production, transportation, development of new mines, future expansion and production cost control. Officials presented details of the progress achieved since the formation of the Praja Government. Bhatti Vikramarka reviewed the roles and responsibilities of General Managers and enquired about their performance at the field level.

The Deputy Chief Minister said it was ironic that those who had neglected Singareni’s expansion for a decade and failed to ensure the availability of new coal blocks were now criticising the company, claiming that it was suffering losses.

He questioned those alleging that coal production was declining, that 40 lakh tonnes of coal had gone missing and that the company had no future, asking them to explain what they had done during their tenure. He also questioned the intentions of those who had taken decisions that weakened the organisation and were now criticising its present condition.Bhatti Vikramarka asserted that the government was studying the actual situation and taking steps to develop new mines to protect Singareni and secure its future.He criticised the previous government for failing to take necessary decisions to promote the company’s growth over the past decade, stating that the lack of expansion had created uncertainty about its future.He said protecting Singareni was the government’s responsibility, as approximately 42,000 permanent employees and another 34,000 to 36,000 contract and outsourced workers depended on the organisation for their livelihoods.

The Deputy Chief Minister explained that key decisions concerning Singareni’s future had been taken after consultations with General Managers and workers’ unions. He urged everyone to think innovatively and take the necessary measures to ensure the company’s survival and growth.He said that, owing to earlier decisions, even coal blocks that had previously been allocated to Singareni had to be brought back into the auction process. He had held several discussions with senior officials of the Union Coal Ministry and presented the state’s case for allowing Singareni to utilise the blocks already allocated to it.He emphasised that the government was taking proactive steps to safeguard the interests of Telangana and Singareni.