Hyderabad, Jan 27 (NationPress) The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), the principal opposition party in Telangana, has urgently requested the intervention of Governor Jishnu Dev Varma to initiate a thorough investigation by the CBI or a sitting judge concerning the alleged corruption and financial irregularities within the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL).

A BRS delegation, led by party working president K. T. Rama Rao, met the Governor and submitted a detailed representation that brought attention to alleged irregularities related to tender processes, procurement, policies, and CSR funds.

The delegation presented various pieces of documentary evidence suggesting misuse of public funds, irregularities in tendering processes, and inflated costs for mining and solar power projects executed by Singareni.

The BRS delegation emphasized to the Governor that Singareni is owned collaboratively by the Telangana government (51%) and the Government of India (49%), asserting that every financial transaction involves public funds, and demanded immediate action to avert further losses.

Following the meeting, KTR addressed the media, stating that the party urged the Governor to either commence or recommend an independent investigation—whether by the CBI or a sitting judge—into the alleged discrepancies in Singareni’s overburden mining and solar power projects. He insisted that the government must immediately stop what he termed a “systematic siphoning of public funds.”

KTR further indicated that BRS had formally alerted the Governor about the alleged “widespread plunder” occurring in Singareni, highlighting the government’s failure to provide satisfactory responses despite various disclosures made by BRS leaders, including former minister T. Harish Rao.

He suggested that BRS's exposure of the issue had unsettled the ruling party, which, instead of addressing the core allegations, was attempting to distract the public by summoning individuals under the guise of inquiries.

The BRS leader claimed that the Chief Minister’s silence on this matter has resulted in significant public discontent in coal-mining areas, with workers increasingly feeling that state leadership is protecting the “coal mafia.”

Additionally, he accused the government of misappropriating nearly Rs 10 crore of Singareni funds for purposes outside the core operations of the company, labeling this as a serious injustice to both the institution and its workforce.

KTR raised several critical questions regarding a newly introduced “Site Visit Certification” clause in tender processes, asserting that such a clause had never previously existed in Singareni or in coal mines across the nation.

He questioned the cancellation of tenders that previously attracted bids below estimates, only to be re-issued later with the new clause, which allegedly led to costs soaring beyond projected amounts.

He demanded the government publish a comprehensive White Paper detailing the number of companies that conducted site visits over the past nine months, communications received by Singareni, issued certificates, and the criteria for contractor selection.

KTR also queried whether contractors were being selectively favored, seeking clarity on alleged connections between certain beneficiaries and relatives of the Chief Minister.

Regarding solar power projects, he noted that while the national average cost is around Rs 2.5–3 crore per megawatt, Singareni’s projects in Telangana were tendered at approximately Rs 7 crore per megawatt, demanding an explanation for this significant increase.

Moreover, he highlighted a reported 30% increase in the prices of explosives and gelatine sticks used in mining operations, claiming that even Singareni directors had raised objections in board meetings but were subsequently penalized while contractors appeared to benefit from the hikes.