Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, addressed thousands of workers at Mancherial-Srirampur during the Singareni Bharosa Yatra (Singareni Assurance Tour), a public outreach campaign aimed at reassuring Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) workers amid growing anxieties over the company's financial health. The minister, who also serves as BJP Telangana state president, reaffirmed that the Modi government would stand by Singareni at all times and outlined central government steps taken to strengthen the colliery and protect worker welfare.

Context

Addressing the large gathering, Kishan Reddy declared that the central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi would remain a constant support for SCCL. He described the affection shown by workers at every step in Mancherial-Srirampur as unforgettable, framing the yatra as a direct response to anxieties that have built up among the colliery's workforce. The minister detailed measures the Modi government has taken to bolster Singareni and improve worker welfare, without specifying exact figures.

Kishan Reddy launched a sharp political attack on both the Congress and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) governments. He alleged that former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) had turned Singareni into a 'pocket company' for his family, while current Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and his ministers were treating it as a 'golden goose' to be plundered. 'The Congress and BRS governments looted the hard work and blood of Singareni workers who toil day and night,' he said.

Policy Backdrop

The Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 enabled fresh allocation of coal blocks following a Supreme Court order cancelling prior allotments, creating a new framework for block distribution to state-run entities including SCCL. The Modi government has since 2020 also pursued commercial coal mining auctions to increase domestic output and reduce import dependence. Against this backdrop, Kishan Reddy credited the Centre with taking the initiative to begin coal production at Tadicherla-II in Telangana and the Naini Coal Block in Odisha, both of which he said were secured for Singareni's production expansion.

The minister argued that BRS government neglect and Congress's 'wrong policies' had left SCCL financially crippled — reaching a stage where it could not even pay basic salaries. He did not provide specific salary arrear figures. Central-state friction over management of joint-sector coal PSUs has been a persistent feature of Telangana's political landscape since the state's formation in 2014, with the BJP-led Centre frequently positioning itself as a financial backstop while regional parties control day-to-day operations.

Stakeholders and Impact

SCCL is a jointly owned public sector undertaking, with both the central and Telangana state government holding stakes, making its financial health a shared responsibility that both sides have politicised. Tens of thousands of Singareni workers and their families depend on the colliery for livelihoods, making wage payment delays a politically sensitive issue across the Telangana coalfields. The Singareni Bharosa Yatra is designed to reassure this constituency ahead of any potential electoral or legislative contest over the company's future.

Kishan Reddy directed a pointed challenge at Revanth Reddy, questioning what the Congress government had actually achieved on its own to merit the 'victory celebrations' it was reportedly holding in Singareni's name. He demanded that the state government first clear all pending dues to the company and then celebrate. 'The Tadicherla block was allocated by Modi — Revanth Reddy must answer what the Congress leaders have achieved on their own,' he said.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to the pace of coal production commencement at Tadicherla-II and the Naini Coal Block, and whether the Telangana government responds to the minister's demand to clear pending dues to SCCL. Any fresh central financial package or viability gap support for the colliery will be closely watched by both workers and political observers. The exchange signals that Singareni will remain a central battleground between the BJP and Congress in Telangana's political arena.