Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao has accused Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy of deliberately allowing Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) coal production to create a demand for expensive foreign coal imports, alleging that the proposed procurement could lead to a ₹3,000 crore scam.
In an letter addressed to Mr. Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Union Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy, Mr. Rao demanded an independent probe into the proposed imports and called for full disclosure of the discussions, tender documents, draft agreements, pricing and the selection of the logistics firm being considered for the assignment.
He alleged that the proposed arrangement could involve commissions of ₹1,500 a tonne, potentially translating into a ₹3,000 crore scam. Pointing out that the imports had not yet taken place, he demanded that all financial arrangements and procurement decisions be made public before the process advanced.
Mr. Rao questioned the decline in SCCL’s coal production from about 70.02 million tonnes in 2023–24 to nearly 58 million tonnes in 2025–26. He sought an explanation from the government for its alleged failure to strengthen domestic production, develop mines and ensure adequate coal supplies despite the anticipated growth in electricity demand.
He also sought a comprehensive, institution-wise statement of the nearly ₹60,000 crore reportedly owed to Singareni, including details of outstanding dues, payments received and pending liabilities.
Regarding the Yadadri Thermal Power Station, Mr Rao cited the reported allocation of 14 million tonnes of G9-grade coal annually from Singareni mines and the April 2022 supply agreement. He questioned the rationale for proposing foreign coal imports before addressing concerns about domestic supplies.
Mr. Rao demanded a white paper on foreign coal procurement, disclosure of all logistics-related dealings, a detailed report on Singareni’s declining production and audited details of the outstanding dues, besides an independent investigation into the proposed import arrangements.
Published - October 15, 2026 07:52 pm IST