Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy on Tuesday, 14 July 2026 accused both the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the current Congress government in Telangana of treating Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) as an 'ATM', alleging that the two successive state governments have together left the public-sector coal miner with dues of approximately Rs 50,000 crore. The minister made these remarks at a meeting attended by senior BJP Telangana leaders and Singareni workers, asserting that the BJP stands firmly behind the company's labour force.

Context

In his post, Kishan Reddy stated — 'ఈ రెండు ప్రభుత్వాలు సింగరేణిని ఏటీఎంలా వాడుకుని దాదాపు రూ.50 వేల కోట్లు బాకీపడ్డాయి' ['These two governments used Singareni like an ATM and owe it dues of nearly Rs 50,000 crore'] — referring to the state power utilities' long-standing failure to clear payments owed to SCCL for coal supplied to Telangana's thermal power stations. He added that despite supplying coal to state government electricity entities, the company has been financially weakened by non-payment of arrears under both administrations.

The meeting was attended by BJP Telangana president N. Ramchander Rao, MP Eatala Rajender, MLC Anji Reddy, MLAs Mahesh Reddy and Dhanpal Suranna, along with district BJP leaders, party workers, and Singareni workers from Peddapalli district.

Policy Backdrop

Singareni Collieries is a jointly promoted public-sector undertaking, with the Telangana state government and the Government of India as co-promoters. The company has supplied coal to state thermal power stations under long-standing fuel supply agreements since the 1980s, with payment obligations resting on the state power utilities.

Against this backdrop of accumulated arrears and liquidity stress, Kishan Reddy credited the central government with allocating the 'Tadicherla-II' coal block to SCCL, describing it as a timely intervention to support the company and its workers. He expressed gratitude, on behalf of the people of Telangana and Singareni workers, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the allocation and continued support.

Stakeholders and Impact

The dues dispute directly affects Singareni's financial health and its approximately 50,000-plus workforce, whose wages, welfare schemes, and retirement benefits depend on the company's cash flows. Delayed payments from state power utilities have been a recurring source of fiscal stress for the miner, constraining its capital expenditure and operational capacity.

The Tadicherla-II block allocation is positioned by the minister as a concrete relief measure — expanding the company's mineable reserves at a time when its revenue cycle is under pressure. The broader pattern of centre-state friction over coal payment arrears is not unique to Telangana; similar disputes have played out in other coal-bearing states, where state electricity boards have historically run up large dues to coal-supplying PSUs.

What's Next

The political salience of Singareni — which operates primarily in Peddapalli, Bhadradri Kothagudem, and surrounding districts — makes it a persistent flashpoint between the BJP at the centre and the ruling Congress in Telangana. Kishan Reddy's remarks signal that the BJP intends to keep the dues issue and worker welfare at the centre of its political messaging in the state.

Attention will now turn to whether the Telangana government responds with a payment schedule for the outstanding arrears, and whether the Ministry of Coal announces additional block allocations or support measures for SCCL in the coming months.