Hyderabad: Deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka on Tuesday said that as many as 13,119 cases of medical invalidation were recorded in the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) between 2014 and 2023. He added that ACB and vigilance probes are currently underway in a large number of these cases. He expressed concerns over the sharp rise in medical invalidation cases in Singareni and said the govt is taking steps to address the issue while ensuring support for affected families.Replying to a question raised by BRS member S Madhusudhana Chary in the legislative council, Bhatti said that between 2014 and 2023, a total of 13,119 medical invalidation cases were recorded in Singareni. This is significantly higher compared to the 3,859 cases reported over the 14-year period from 2000 to 2014.He said the sudden increase has placed a financial burden on Singareni, and that investigations by ACB and vigilance departments are underway to examine possible misuse of the provisions. “Considering the possibility of misuse, and after examining the norms followed by Coal India and Western Coalfields, a committee has been constituted. It has been decided to take a humanitarian approach by providing employment opportunities to dependents rather than abandoning those who have been medically invalidated. The committee will review the process and ensure proper implementation of rules,” Bhatti said.Over the past two years, 14 medical board meetings have been conducted by Singareni. Through this process, employment was provided to 1,041 dependents in 2024 and 949 in 2025. Bhatti also highlighted the high cost of coal production in Singareni. Producing one tonne of coal costs Rs 4,088, which is much higher compared to Rs 1,065 in Coal India and Rs 2,169 in Western Coalfields.In the context of globalisation and changing market dynamics, he said efforts must be made to rationalise operations in Singareni while maintaining a humanitarian perspective. Singareni, the largest public sector enterprise in Telangana, provides employment to thousands. To preserve it for future generations, it is necessary to adapt to evolving market conditions, he said. “About 30% of Singareni’s coal production goes to Genco. Since Genco is purchasing coal from Singareni at higher prices compared to the open market, it is facing a production cost burden, which ultimately impacts the state’s population of 3.55 crore,” Bhatti said.He added that procuring higher-priced coal from Singareni places an additional financial burden on genco. If Genco procures coal from Coal India, the cost per unit reduces by Rs 2, and if procured from Western Coalfields, the burden reduces by Rs 1.25 per unit, he said. He emphasised the need for concrete decisions to safeguard Singareni. “Both Singareni and Genco are govt entities, and it is our responsibility to maintain a balance and protect both. Singareni must align its production costs with those of other coal companies. Only then can the organisation be preserved for future generations,” Bhatti added.
