Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said the State Cabinet has approved an 800 MW thermal power project in the Ramagundam region, aligning with the aspirations of people in Peddapalli district. A formal announcement will be made shortly in Ramagundam, he said while addressing a public meeting in Godavarikhani on Sunday. Earlier, the Deputy Chief Minister, along with Ministers D. Sridhar Babu, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Konda Surekha and Adluri Laxman Kumar, laid foundation stones for various development works within the Ramagundam Municipal Corporation limits. The projects include drinking water pipelines and other civic infrastructure, involving a total investment of around Rs 1.75 billion. Indiramma house pattas and double-bedroom houses were also handed over to beneficiaries. Vikramarka recalled that during his People’s March padayatra in 2023, residents had demanded a new thermal power project following the stoppage of production at the old plant in Telangana’s key power hub. He said the Cabinet’s approval of the 800 MW project addresses this long-pending demand and is expected to create employment and livelihood opportunities in the region. Describing Singareni Collieries Company Limited as a jewel in Telangana’s crown, the Deputy Chief Minister said it was a collective responsibility to strengthen the state-owned miner. He added that SCCL’s expertise in mining was unmatched and suggested that the company should eventually expand into rare earth mineral mining to gain global significance and generate additional jobs. Vikramarka also said an accident insurance cover of Rs 10 million has been extended to Singareni employees and workers, as well as those employed across power sector institutions. He reiterated that the State government plans to provide similar accident insurance to about 0.514 million regular government employees. Criticising the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi government, he said it had imposed a dictatorial regime on the State. He added that the Congress-led government, under its Indiramma Rajyam initiative, has taken up the construction of around 0.45 million Indiramma houses across Telangana, alongside the rollout of several other flagship welfare schemes.