Jayashankar-Bhupalpally: Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka stated that strengthening the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), a public sector enterprise employing over 45,000 people, was a top priority for the State government to safeguard livelihood opportunities for future generations.
The Deputy CM conducted a review meeting with senior officials at the Singareni General Manager’s office in Bhupalpally on Tuesday.
He said the government’s primary objective was to ensure that Singareni remained profitable for the benefit of its employees, local communities, and the State exchequer.
He noted that while SCCL and Coal India once held monopoly in the coal sector, global shifts in the coal industry have now necessitated Singareni’s preparedness to withstand market competition. He advised officials and staff to consistently compare coal production costs and market prices, both
of private players and SCCL, to ensure competitiveness. To enhance transparency, he instructed officials to install display boards at mining sites showing production costs and market prices of coal to raise awareness among workers and officers.
Drawing attention to Singareni’s 136-year history in mining, the Deputy CM urged the company to explore other mineral opportunities beyond coal. He suggested appointing consultants to assess global demand for critical minerals and study their availability. Failing to plan ahead, he warned, would risk harming future generations.
Responding to complaints from locals, the Deputy CM directed officials to investigate and submit a report on the impact of mining operations on two villages in Bhupalpally constituency.
The review meeting was attended by Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu and others.