Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) on Friday called for an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the alleged disappearance of nearly 40 lakh metric tonnes of coal, valued at around Rs 1,600 crore, from the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL).
In a letter addressed to Union Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy, KTR questioned how such a large quantity of coal, shown in official stock records, could have gone missing without accountability.
advertisement
“Coal which should have been present in stockyards was illegally diverted and sold. This led to a major financial loss to the Public Sector Undertaking. The Centre must identify the missing coal and take action against those responsible,” he said.
KTR claimed that Singareni has been facing a series of alleged irregularities since the Congress government came to power in Telangana, adding that repeated representations to the Centre had not led to meaningful action.
According to him, official records on the Singareni website indicated the availability of around 40 lakh metric tonnes of coal across multiple mines, including Mandamarri, Srirampur, Ramagundam-I, Ramagundam-II, Bhupalpally, Yellandu and Sathupalli. However, physical verification reportedly showed that the stocks were not present at the designated locations.
He further pointed out that while records reflected payment of coal cess and income tax on these stocks, the actual coal was allegedly not found on the ground. KTR questioned the lack of inspections by the Coal Ministry and the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
“The coal of Singareni belongs to the people of Telangana. Both the State and Central Governments are collectively endangering the future of this institution,” KTR said.
He demanded an all-party delegation to visit the mines and stockyards for on-ground verification. The BRS scion said such an exercise would help establish the facts behind the alleged discrepancies.
KTR also alleged irregularities in solar power tenders, diesel procurement, explosive purchases, diversion of CSR funds and misuse of Singareni resources for non-core activities.
He accused both the Congress and BJP of shielding those involved in alleged irregularities and demanded a judicial probe headed by a sitting judge into what he described as a Rs 1,600 crore coal scam.
“The livelihoods of thousands of Singareni workers and the future of Telangana’s most valuable public sector institution are at stake. BRS will not tolerate any attempt to weaken or destroy Singareni through corruption and collusion,” KTR stated.
Warning of agitation if no action is taken, KTR said BRS, along with Singareni workers, would launch protests against both the state and central governments.
He reiterated that workers and the people of Telangana deserve full transparency regarding the alleged disappearance of coal and called for immediate corrective steps.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
