Telangana Explores Coal Block Rights for SCCL Expansion

29 Sep 2025 CW Team

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy noted that SCCL was excluded from auctions for major coal blocks at Sattupalli and Koyagudem during the previous administration, forcing the company to forgo rights to blocks within its existing holdings. This exclusion is estimated to have caused a revenue loss of Rs 60 billion and potential profit loss of Rs 15 billion.

Representations from workers’ unions and stakeholders prompted the Government to explore remedial measures. “Shall we scrap the previous tenders? Or shall we pay above the bid amount to convince the Central Government to hand over the mining rights of the two blocks?” the Chief Minister asked at a press conference in Hyderabad on Monday, 22 September 2025.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka added that the Government is seriously considering resuming the two mining blocks and plans to represent the State’s position to the Central Government, seeking intervention to transfer mining rights to SCCL.

The administration has also directed discussions with SCCL workers’ unions and stakeholders regarding the company’s expansion plans. “We want Singareni to survive. Given its vast experience, the firm should compete with the private sector, including multinationals, in mining coal and other minerals,” he said.

Regarding the drop in coal prices following GST rate rationalisation, the Chief Minister acknowledged the financial strain on both SCCL and power distribution companies. The State is evaluating cross-subsidisation measures and may request viability gap funding from the Central Government to offset projected losses.

Telangana expects a revenue shortfall of Rs 7 billion due to GST rate changes. “The Central Government must provide viability gap funding as these losses arise from its decision. The State cannot be left to manage them alone,” the Chief Minister asserted. A formal communication to Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy is expected to seek such funding.

The Telangana Government is exploring options to secure mining rights for two coal blocks adjoining existing Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) blocks. The move aims to supplement SCCL’s production as its reserves gradually deplete.Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy noted that SCCL was excluded from auctions for major coal blocks at Sattupalli and Koyagudem during the previous administration, forcing the company to forgo rights to blocks within its existing holdings. This exclusion is estimated to have caused a revenue loss of Rs 60 billion and potential profit loss of Rs 15 billion.Representations from workers’ unions and stakeholders prompted the Government to explore remedial measures. “Shall we scrap the previous tenders? Or shall we pay above the bid amount to convince the Central Government to hand over the mining rights of the two blocks?” the Chief Minister asked at a press conference in Hyderabad on Monday, 22 September 2025.Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka added that the Government is seriously considering resuming the two mining blocks and plans to represent the State’s position to the Central Government, seeking intervention to transfer mining rights to SCCL.The administration has also directed discussions with SCCL workers’ unions and stakeholders regarding the company’s expansion plans. “We want Singareni to survive. Given its vast experience, the firm should compete with the private sector, including multinationals, in mining coal and other minerals,” he said.Regarding the drop in coal prices following GST rate rationalisation, the Chief Minister acknowledged the financial strain on both SCCL and power distribution companies. The State is evaluating cross-subsidisation measures and may request viability gap funding from the Central Government to offset projected losses.Telangana expects a revenue shortfall of Rs 7 billion due to GST rate changes. “The Central Government must provide viability gap funding as these losses arise from its decision. The State cannot be left to manage them alone,” the Chief Minister asserted. A formal communication to Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy is expected to seek such funding.

Real Estate

28 Nov 2025

Open and Shut Case

Fenestrations aren’t just openings in a building, nor are they part of the background. With the right materiality and detailing, they become filters that set the tone, a powerful design element that influences light, air, sound, mood, movement and privacy, while meaningfully connecting inner and outer spaces.Essentially, doors and windows are transitions and thinking of them so underscores their role in building design. “Good architecture pays attention to transitions,” says Meinathan N, Founder and Principal Architect, Architecture+Swath, and rightfully so. “The right height, the..

Real Estate

28 Nov 2025

Rethinking Tall Buildings!

The 88-storey Palais Royale in Mumbai. The 64-storey One Avighna Park in Mumbai. The 41-storey Wave One, Noida. All members of India’s small but growing number of skyscrapers, mostly in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Gurugram.Rapid urbanisation in the light of land constraints is making the question of ‘how tall’ increasingly crucial. “The ‘height of affordability’ is a critical consideration,” says Anuja Sawant, Principal, SSA, and Director, Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat India Chapter.There is a strong case for building taller. But “the optimal height of a building i..

Infrastructure Urban

28 Nov 2025

We are ready to play a key role in India’s clean-energy transition

SPML Infra Ltd has been developing critical infrastructure projects for water supply, power transmission & distribution and urban development. In a rich legacy of over four decades, the company has successively delivered more than 700 projects, thus providing clean drinking water facilities to over 50 million people, connecting more than 20,000 villages with electricity and installing high-capacity AIS and GIS substations across the country. Abhinandan Sethi, Managing Director, SPML Infra, shares more about the company’s projects and prospects. Please share the compositio..