KTR alleges BJP's conspiracy to privatise Singareni Collieries
Writes letter to Union Minister Prahlad Joshi demanding allocation of coal mines directly to Singareni
Minister for Industries and Commerce KT Rama Rao
Hyderabad: Telangana Industries Minister KT Rama Rao again attacked the BJP-led Union government alleging that a conspiracy is going on to privatise Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) in Telangana. "The coal of SCCL is a big asset for the State. Our people will give a befitting reply to BJP for their plans to privatise the State-owned coal mining company," he said.
"SCCL is not just a coal mine but a gold mine that is giving employment to thousands of youth. The people of Telangana will show their power in Delhi if the BJP continues its attempts to privatise the company. This agitation will be much bigger than the agitation staged against the three farm laws, the minister said adding that he Telangana leaders will stand by its employees in their fight against BJP.
He also expressed anger over asking the SCCL to participate in the auction for JBROC-3, KK-6, Shravana Pally OC, Koyagudem coal mines instead of allocating them directly to the company. "The Centre is supposed to allocate coal mines to strengthen the SCCL. Instead, it is asking the company to take part in an auction for mines. This is nothing but creating hurdles for Telangana and its development, he added.
KTR wrote a letter to Union Minister Prahlad Joshi strongly demanding the allocation of coal mines directly to Singareni. In his letter, he stated that the SCCL has increased the production from 450 lakh tonnes to 670 lakh tonnes in the past seven years. He informed about the expansion of the company highlighting the growth in coal mining, revenues and profits.
The minister said that the thermal power plant run by the SCCL has the highest plant load factor (PLF) in the country. It is providing coal not just within Telangana but also to various thermal power plants in Maharashtra and other South Indian States. It is the only public sector undertaking in the country to contribute 29 per cent of the profits.
"The BJP is planning to push SCCL into losses and then privatise it. Similarly, in Andhra Pradesh, the iron ore mines required for the Vizag Steel Plant were not provided, which led to losses of the plant, and that plant will be privatised soon. About 27 requisition letters related to the Steel Plant were still pending with the Union government," he informed.
KTR alleged that the BJP-led government is conspiring to kill the SCCL also in a similar fashion by refusing to allocate the coal mines.
