Congress, BRS Govt. neglected SCCL while BJP secured coal block: Ramchander Rao

State BJP president N. Ramchander Rao alleged that both the previous BRS government and the current Congress government had “totally neglected” Singareni Collieries Coal Limited (SCCL), pushing the state public sector undertaking into losses. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy secured the allotment of the Tadicherla-II coal block to SCCL without an auction, a move that would further strengthen the company, he claimed.

At a press conference at the party office, Mr. Rao rejected the Congress government’s claim that it was responsible for the allocation of coal blocks. The allocation was made possible due to the joint efforts of BJP MPs, MLAs and district leaders along with the “special initiative of Mr. Kishan Reddy”, he claimed.

Mr. Rao alleged that while the previous BRS government used the SCCL for its own benefit, the Congress government weakened the institution by diverting its funds to other activities like football matches. SCCL operates 39 mines and provides livelihood to about 41,000 permanent employees and 31,000 contract workers. The new block will help increase production, income and jobs, he said.

The BJP chief also demanded that the purview of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged irregularities in the ‘Dharani’ land portal be extended to probe “irregularities” in the Congress government’s ‘Bhu Bharati’ initiative.

He further criticized the government over the Kaleshwaram project and urged both Congress and BRS parties to put aside political differences and focus on repairing and rehabilitating the irrigation project so that it can effectively serve farmers.

Meanwhile, the party has also planned a grand welcome for Mr Kishan Reddy and Union Health and Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda to celebrate the allotment of SCCL’s Tadicherla-II coal block on Thursday when they arrive from New Delhi.

During their visit, they will tour AIIMS-Bibinagar, interact with party leaders at the BJP state office and attend a program organized by the Nationalist Thinkers Forum at the Taj Deccan Hotel. Mr. Nadda will deliver a lecture on “Democracy, Diplomacy and Development” with Mr. Ramchander Rao presiding over the event.

Published – 8 Jul 2026 20:28 IST