ABKMS–BMS Seeks Allocation of Koyagudem OC-III, JVR OC-III Coal Blocks to Singareni
Hyderabad, Aug 9 (TNT): Leaders of the ABKMS–BMS on Sunday urged Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy to allocate the Koyagudem OC-III and JVR OC-III coal blocks to the State-owned Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), citing the need to expand mining operations and protect employment.
A delegation of the Singareni workers’ unions met Kishan Reddy in Hyderabad and submitted a memorandum seeking allocation of the two coal blocks to the state-owned coal company.
The union leaders thanked Kishan Reddy for facilitating the allocation of the Manuguru PK OC-II Dip Side Extension Project to Singareni and said the project would extend the company’s operational life by another 50 years.
They urged the Union Government to similarly facilitate allocation of Koyagudem OC-III and JVR OC-III, which they claimed had remained stalled for several years.
The union representatives alleged that the previous BRS government had prevented Singareni from participating in coal block auctions, resulting in a shortage of new mining projects.
They claimed the absence of new mines could lead to a reduction of around 12 million tonnes in coal production this year.
They further alleged that coal production had not commenced in blocks previously allocated to private entities due to land acquisition issues, legal disputes and restrictions under tribal agency regulations.
The union leaders said the shortage of new mining operations had also affected employment and local economic activity, particularly in the Illandu region, where workers had reportedly been transferred.
They argued that allocating the two blocks to Singareni would allow the company to utilise its existing mining infrastructure, machinery and transportation network, while increasing coal production and ensuring uninterrupted supplies to power stations in southern India.
Such allocation would also help protect existing jobs and generate employment opportunities for local communities, the union leaders said.
The ABKMS–BMS delegation urged the Centre to review the existing allocation of the two blocks and, if required, de-allocate and subsequently reallocate or re-auction them to enable Singareni to take up mining operations.
The delegation comprised P Madhav Naik, Puli Rajareddy, Appani Srinivas, Vaddepalli Kumar Swamy, Yadagiri Satyaiah, G V Krishna Reddy, Sai Veni Satish, Leela Krishna, Sujender and Narasimha Rao, among others.
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