Hyderabad: Alleging there is a danger to Ramappa temple due to open cast mining, former MP and BRS leader B Vinod Kumar has urged the Centre and Telangana govt to immediately withdraw the proposed PVNR open-cast coal mining project at Venkatapur in Mulugu district, warning that it could endanger the UNESCO world heritage site of Ramappa Temple and the ancient Kakatiya irrigation system.Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan on Tuesday, Vinod Kumar said it was unjust to put nearly 800 years of historical heritage at risk for a coal project whose reserves were expected to last only about 19 years.Citing a report submitted by the Kakatiya Heritage Trust to union coal minister G Kishan Reddy, he said the proposed mine would be around 300 metres deep and located approximately five km downstream of Ramappa Temple and Ramappa Lake.Vinod Kumar said the world heritage committee, at its 2026 session, had welcomed efforts by the Centre and Telangana govt to extend the buffer zone of the Ramappa site to cover the ancient Kakatiya irrigation system, canals and Ramappa Lake. UNESCO has encouraged submission of the proposal for the extension by February 1, 2027, he said.He questioned the rationale behind proposing a deep open-cast mine close to the heritage site when efforts were underway to expand its protected area. The Kakatiya Heritage Trust report had raised concerns over geological faults, fractures, groundwater movement and the possible impact of repeated blasting vibrations on the temple’s structural stability, he said.Vinod also stressed the importance of Ramappa lake, stating that it has a storage capacity of about three TMC and supports irrigation over nearly 30,000 acres.Clarifying that he was not opposed to development, Singareni Collieries or the country’s energy needs, he said coal could be mined from alternative locations but Ramappa could not be relocated or recreated.He demanded that both the Centre and state govts withdraw the project, deny all permissions and clearances, protect the temple, lake and irrigation network, and explore alternative mining locations.Singareni denies allegations and Says no threat to Ramappa:Meanwhile, Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) has dismissed reports that mining operations proposed at Venkatapur in Mulugu district could pose a threat to the world heritage site terming such concerns “misconceptions and baseless.”In a statement the SCCL said, the Singareni management said it would proceed with the proposed Venkatapur open-cast project only after conducting a comprehensive scientific assessment of its possible impact on the heritage site and surrounding areas.“The management said scientific studies would be carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and other reputed institutions, and further action would be taken strictly on the basis of their findings and recommendations,” the SCCL said.Singareni said it was fully conscious of its responsibility as a public sector undertaking of Telangana and would not undertake any activity that could cause damage to Ramappa Temple, which is recognised as a world heritage site.The company reiterated its commitment to protecting the historical and cultural heritage associated with Ramappa while meeting the state’s energy requirements through responsible mining practices.ends/
