Those who sought to weaken Singareni are now criticising it
Neglected the company’s expansion for a decade and are now shedding crocodile tears
Those who obstructed coal block allocations and caused losses to Singareni are now launching counterattacks
We are taking decisions to protect and strengthen the organisation
Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka gives clear directions at meeting with General Managers
HYDERABAD, OCTOBER 26, 2026: Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka has called for a comprehensive action plan to strengthen Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) and ensure employment security for future generations. He directed officials to reduce coal production costs, improve productivity, develop new mines and expand into the exploration of critical minerals.
The Deputy Chief Minister was speaking at a direct interaction session with 66 General Managers of Singareni Collieries Company Limited at Praja Bhavan in Hyderabad on Sunday. The meeting was chaired by Singareni CMD and Chairman Dr Buddha Prakash Jyoti.
The meeting comprehensively discussed the company’s performance, coal production, and transportation, development of new mines, future expansion and production cost control. Officials presented details of the progress achieved since the formation of the Praja Government. Bhatti Vikramarka reviewed the roles and responsibilities of General Managers and enquired about their performance at the field level.
The Deputy Chief Minister said it was ironic that those who had neglected Singareni’s expansion for a decade and failed to ensure the availability of new coal blocks were now criticising the company, claiming that it was suffering losses.
He questioned those alleging that coal production was declining, that 40 lakh tonnes of coal had gone missing and that the company had no future, asking them to explain what they had done during their tenure. He also questioned the intentions of those who had taken decisions that weakened the organisation and were now criticising its present condition.
Bhatti Vikramarka asserted that the government was studying the actual situation and taking steps to develop new mines to protect Singareni and secure its future.
He criticised the previous government for failing to take necessary decisions to promote the company’s growth over the past decade, stating that the lack of expansion had created uncertainty about its future.
He said protecting Singareni was the government’s responsibility, as approximately 42,000 permanent employees and another 34,000 to 36,000 contract and outsourced workers depended on the organisation for their livelihoods.
The Deputy Chief Minister explained that key decisions concerning Singareni’s future had been taken after consultations with General Managers and workers’ unions. He urged everyone to think innovatively and take the necessary measures to ensure the company’s survival and growth.
He said that, owing to earlier decisions, even coal blocks that had previously been allocated to Singareni had to be brought back into the auction process. He had held several discussions with senior officials of the Union Coal Ministry and presented the state’s case for allowing Singareni to utilise the blocks already allocated to it.
He emphasised that the government was taking proactive steps to safeguard the interests of Telangana and Singareni.
Who is responsible for the coal shortage?
The Deputy Chief Minister said it was inappropriate to criticise Singareni for being unable to supply the required quantities of coal without examining the underlying issues.
He pointed out that coal allocations should be secured when power projects are planned and established. Assigning coal supply responsibilities to Singareni without ensuring adequate allocations had resulted in the present difficulties, he explained.
He said there was a need to examine the agreements entered into for supplying coal to power projects, the availability of coal reserves and the company’s production capacity.
Singareni could supply coal only according to the quality and grade available in its mines, and it was not possible to alter the grade of coal extracted from them, he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister observed that many of the current problems could have been avoided if coal allocations and supply arrangements had been finalised at the time the power projects were planned.
Reducing production costs is essential to remain competitive
Bhatti Vikramarka warned that Singareni would find it difficult to compete with other suppliers if its coal production costs remained high.
Consumers would naturally prefer suppliers offering coal at lower prices, he said. If Singareni’s prices were not competitive, the company risked losing its market share, which could ultimately affect the future of its employees.
He directed officials to reduce production costs, utilise manpower and machinery efficiently, improve work practices and increase productivity.
Only if the company remained profitable could it ensure employment security for existing workers and future generations, he said. He called upon officials to work responsibly to make Singareni competitive in the market.
Expand into critical minerals
The Deputy Chief Minister stressed that Singareni should gradually diversify its operations beyond coal mining and explore opportunities in other mineral sectors.
With the growing adoption of alternative energy sources such as solar power, battery storage systems and pumped storage projects, the company should assess in advance the potential impact on thermal power generation and future coal demand, he said.
Pointing out that Singareni had more than a century of experience in mining, he suggested utilising this expertise to explore and develop critical minerals such as copper, gold, vanadium and lithium.
He advised officials to engage international consultants to obtain the necessary technical expertise and conduct detailed feasibility studies before making investments in new sectors.
Bhatti Vikramarka asked General Managers to identify problems at the field level and suggest practical solutions to the government. He encouraged them to introduce innovative ideas for the company’s development and make effective use of the support being provided by the government.
He assured them that the government was prepared to address their concerns but emphasised that officials must discharge their responsibilities in line with the government’s decisions.
He called for collective efforts to transform Singareni into a profitable organisation and provide security and confidence to the families of its workers.
Singareni CMD Dr. Buddha Prakash Jyoti’s remarks
Historic interaction with General Managers in Singareni’s history
Several welfare initiatives undertaken for workers under the Deputy Chief Minister’s guidance
Singareni Collieries Company Limited Chairman and Managing Director Dr. Buddha Prakash Jyoti said the organisation was working under the direction of the Praja Government to establish Singareni as one of the leading companies in the country.
He called upon all employees and officials to work together towards achieving this objective.
The interaction session with Singareni General Managers was held on Sunday at Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Praja Bhavan in Hyderabad under the chairmanship of CMD Dr. Buddha Prakash Jyoti.
Speaking on the occasion, he said this was the first time in Singareni’s history that such an interaction programme had been organised and described it as a positive development.
He noted that the impact of El Niño was being felt severely across the world and said Singareni had a crucial role to play in meeting energy requirements under such circumstances.
Dr. Jyoti said that, under the guidance of Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, Singareni had secured new coal mines.
He added that, since the formation of the Praja Government, steps had been taken to establish a new thermal power station at Jaipur and introduce several welfare initiatives for permanent and contract employees.
During the session, a progress report detailing the achievements of the organisation from December 2023 to the present was presented. Videos showcasing Singareni’s achievements and ongoing initiatives were also screened.
About the Author
