Hyderabad: BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao has alleged irregularities in a proposed coal import arrangement and sought an independent investigation into the plan. He also demanded that the Telangana government disclose all related agreements and publish a White Paper on the proposal.

In an open letter addressed to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Union coal minister G. Kishan Reddy, Rama Rao alleged that the state government was weakening Singareni Collieries Company (SCCL) while considering imports through private logistics firm Bhotra Logistics. He called for the proposal to be scrapped and questioned the basis for selecting the company.

Rama Rao said the actual import had not taken place but alleged that the proposed arrangement involved commissions of Rs. 1,500 per tonne. He estimated that such commissions could translate into a Rs. 30 bn scam. The allegations were made without any reported confirmation from the government or the private company.

He also sought an explanation for the decline in SCCL’s coal production, which he said fell from approximately 70.02 mn tonnes in FY24 to around 58 mn tonnes in FY26. In addition, he requested an institution-wise account of approximately Rs. 600 bn in outstanding dues reportedly owed to SCCL by various departments.

Rama Rao referred to the Yadadri Thermal Power Station and the reported allocation of 14 mn tonnes per annum of G9-grade coal from SCCL mines. He pointed to a supply agreement signed in April 2022 and questioned why domestic supply concerns were not being resolved before foreign coal imports were considered.

The BRS leader’s demands include an independent inquiry, disclosure of the proposed coal-import agreements and a review of the arrangements involving the private company. The government’s response to the allegations was not included in the report.