Hyderabad: Centre’s decision to allot the Tadicherla-II coal block to Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) without an auction or premium burden will ensure coal production for the next four to five decades, Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao said on Monday, even as he accused the Congress govt of pushing the state-owned miner into financial distress.Addressing a meeting, Rao termed the move a “historic decision” for Telangana and Singareni workers and credited Union coal and mines minister G Kishan Reddy with securing the block to SCCL. Stating that coal blocks are generally allotted through auctions involving hefty premiums, Rao said the Centre had made an exception in the case of Tadicherla-II, which has the capacity to sustain coal production for 40 to 50 years.He alleged that SCCL was facing financial difficulties and accused the Revanth Reddy govt of burdening the company by diverting funds generated by workers for football tournaments and other programmes. Recalling his tenure as an MLC, Rao said he had repeatedly raised Singareni-related issues in the legislative council and had interacted with workers during trade union elections organised by the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh.The BJP leader said the party had consistently fought for the rights of Singareni employees through legislative interventions and public movements. He alleged that both the Congress and BRS had failed students, farmers, employees, job seekers, pensioners and Singareni workers. Warning the state govt against taking decisions detrimental to workers’ interests, Rao said the BJP would oppose any move that weakens the state-owned coal miner.
