Kishan Reddy accuses TG of bypassing SCCL board, flags irregularities

The Centre has no direct authority to intervene in the functioning of Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) despite holding a 49% stake, but even the dissent notes submitted by its nominated directors in board meetings were being ignored while key decisions taken by the State Government, which controls the remaining stake, were not being communicated in violation of procedural norms, alleged Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy.

Addressing a press conference at the Telangana BJP office on Thursday, the Secunderabad MP intensified his attack on both the BRS and Congress governments for the second consecutive day. He accused them of “corruption, irregularities and fiscal mismanagement” in the operation of SCCL, which employs thousands and remains one of Telangana’s most critical public sector entities.

Mr. Kishan Reddy said rules governing the Chairman and Managing Director’s appointment were violated when the tenure was extended to five years instead of the prescribed four. Even after this deviation, successive governments continued to run the organisation with in‑charge CMDs rather than appointing a full‑time head.

The Minister claimed that nearly 12 private companies were operating inside Singareni and several functions had been outsourced during the BRS regime. However, the Centre was not informed about the nature of their work or the scale of their operations, he alleged.

On the contentious Naini coal block, Mr. Reddy said 17 companies conducted site visits and the tender deadline was set for January 29, but the process was abruptly cancelled — mirroring what happened under the previous BRS government, when tenders were withdrawn after receiving bids.

The BRS Government had also handed over Tadicherla block forcing SCCL hand and making the Project Authority Certificate mandatory by the current government has now “left scope for corruption,” he said.

He also accused the previous government of misusing CSR funds “indiscriminately” in BRS MLAs’ offices on items like “sofas and swimming pools” and diverting them to constituencies. He said the ₹1,500‑crore District Mineral Fund, intended for development in mining‑affected areas, was not released. Stating that SCCL workers continue to rely on outdated machinery due to fund shortages, Mr. Reddy said the Centre is prepared to conduct transparent coal auctions if the State Government is unable to do so.