Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy on Monday, June 8, 2026, accused the Telangana state government of manipulating coal and mining tender norms by making a Singareni Collieries site-visit certificate a mandatory prerequisite for participation — a condition he says opens the door to corruption.

Context

In a post on X in Telugu, Kishan Reddy explained that contractors bidding for coal and mining tenders across the country are required to conduct a site visit before submitting bids. He noted that in the past, contractors would win tenders and then approach courts citing site-related grievances — effectively stalling mining operations. The minister quoted the post: 'కాంట్రాక్టర్లు టెండర్‌కు వచ్చాక అది బాగాలేదు ఇది బాగాలేదు అని సాకులు చెబుతూ మైనింగ్ చేయకుండా కోర్టుకు వెళ్తుండేవారు' — ('After winning tenders, contractors would make excuses saying this is not good, that is not good, and go to court without doing any mining').

He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government with enacting legislation that requires contractors to complete a site visit and submit a self-declaration confirming satisfaction with site conditions before they are even allowed to participate in the tender process.

Policy Backdrop

The site-visit and self-declaration framework has its roots in post-2014 mining sector reforms. Following the Supreme Court's cancellation of coal block allocations that year, the Centre introduced the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015, which mandated transparent e-auctions with pre-bid site visit requirements. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2020 further formalised self-declaration norms to reduce post-award litigation, opening commercial coal mining to private players under clearer rules.

The intent behind these reforms was to front-load due diligence — ensuring that a contractor who bids has already assessed the site and cannot later claim ignorance as grounds for non-performance or legal challenge.

Stakeholders and Impact

Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), a Telangana-based public sector undertaking that operates major coal mines in the Godavari valley, is at the centre of the controversy. Kishan Reddy alleged that the state government has converted the optional self-declaration framework into a mandatory gate — requiring a Singareni-issued site-visit certificate as a condition of eligibility, rather than a self-certified declaration by the contractor. He characterised this as 'అవినీతికి బాటలు వేసింది' — ('paving the way for corruption').

The practical effect, he argued, is that only contractors who obtain a certificate from Singareni itself can participate, concentrating gatekeeping power with the state-controlled entity and potentially enabling rent-seeking. Mining contractors, small and mid-sized firms, and coal-dependent industries in Telangana are the most directly affected stakeholders.

What's Next

The allegation raises the prospect of scrutiny over upcoming coal and mineral block auctions by both central and Telangana state authorities. Any legislative or administrative response from the Telangana government, potential intervention by the Ministry of Coal, or litigation in the Telangana High Court over the tender conditions will be closely watched. Kishan Reddy's post, made in his dual capacity as Union minister and BJP Telangana state president, signals that the party intends to press this issue in the public and political arena ahead of future state-level electoral cycles.