Harish Rao Promises Inquiry Into Alleged Corruption at Singareni Collieries Company Limited
BRS leader T. Harish Rao has announced that his party will conduct a formal inquiry into alleged corruption and operational mismanagement at Singareni Collieries Company Limited if elected. The accusations focus on tender irregularities, financial losses, and failed solar projects under the current state administration.
Highlights
- •Harish Rao announced plans for an inquiry into alleged corruption at SCCL if BRS returns to power.
- •The BRS leader raised concerns about irregularities in coal stock, tender processes, and power plant operations.
- •Allegations include cost inflation through site visit certificates favoring a relative of the Chief Minister.
- •Renewable energy projects costing Rs 1,000 crore remain idle due to lack of power purchase agreements.
In a significant political development, BRS leader T. Harish Rao has pledged that his party will initiate a comprehensive inquiry into the alleged corruption and administrative irregularities within the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) should they return to power. Speaking at a recent event organized by the Telangana Boggu Gani Karmika Sangham (TBGKS) in Kothagudem, Harish Rao emphasized that the company had historically functioned as an autonomous entity without direct interference from state leadership.
Allegations of Corruption in SCCL
During his address, Harish Rao highlighted several areas of financial concern that have allegedly burdened SCCL under the current administration. He pointed to specific issues including the management of explosives and diesel procurement, the unexplained disappearance of 50 lakh tonnes of coal stock, and concerns surrounding the Jaipur power plant. According to the BRS leader, these operational lapses have negatively impacted the financial health of the organization.
A primary focus of the allegations centers on the usage of site visit certificates for awarding tenders. Harish Rao claimed that nine such tenders were processed in a manner that inflated project costs by approximately 10 to 15 percent. He explicitly raised questions regarding why these contracts were not cancelled, specifically noting that Sodha Constructions, owned by Srujan Reddy—a relative of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy—was a primary beneficiary of this system.
Infrastructure and Solar Power Concerns
The BRS leader further scrutinized the company's recent expansion into the renewable energy sector. He alleged that SCCL bypassed established NPDCL guidelines by undertaking the development of two solar power projects with capacities of 103 MW and 67 MW, respectively. With a total investment of Rs 1,000 crore, these projects have allegedly become dormant.
Harish Rao stated that these solar facilities remain idle due to a fundamental lack of synchronization and the absence of clear power purchase agreements. The assertion is that these projects were pursued despite the NPDCL declining to purchase the generated power. By highlighting these specific financial and operational discrepancies, the opposition is placing renewed pressure on the state government regarding the management of one of Telangana's most critical public-sector undertakings. The proposed future inquiry is being positioned as a necessary measure to restore transparency and financial accountability to Singareni Collieries.
