Speaking at the launch of the 10th round of coal mine auctions by the Ministry of Coal in Hyderabad, he said that as a central minister hailing from Telangana, he would do everything possible to ensure that Singareni does not suffer losses.
He gave this assurance when Telangana Deputy Chief Minister and Finance and Power Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who attended the launch event, expressed concern over Singareni not being allotted coal mines.
The deputy CM submitted a memorandum to Kishan Reddy, urging the Center not to auction coal mining blocks in Telangana and allocate them to Singareni.
He said all mining blocks in the state's coal belt area should be allotted to SCCL on a reserve basis.
The Deputy Chief Minister said if Singareni was not allocated new coal mines, its very existence would be at stake in the coming years.
Kishan Reddy, in his reply, assured that no decision detrimental to the interests of Singareni would be taken.
He clarified that the Center was not conducting an auction of coal mines just to earn revenue and asserted that it was the states and not the Center that were reaping its benefits.
He said there is a uniform policy for all companies to acquire coal mines.
Mentioning that the Center has 49 per cent stake in Singareni, the central minister said the Center has equal responsibility to strengthen the company.
Kishan Reddy said that he would review the problems faced by Singareni and that he would try to address them after discussing them with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his ministry and his company.
Kishan Reddy mentioned that Naini coal block in Odisha is listed in the Coal Mines Special Provisions Act, 2015 and was allotted to Singareni but for various reasons production had not started.
He assured the Deputy Chief Minister that the Center would discuss the issue with the Odisha government to ensure that production is started in mission mode.
He said once the Naini coal block becomes operational, it will be able to contribute to 15 per cent of Singareni's coal production.
He clarified that auction of coal mines is being carried out transparently as per Supreme Court guidelines to improve coal production.
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said that before the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, Singareni had complete control over mines in the state's coal belt.
He demanded that the allotment of two coal blocks in the state to private players be canceled and the same be handed over to Singareni.
He said that of the 39 coal mines in Singareni, 22 are on the verge of depletion and will close in the next 10 to 15 years, affecting the interests of 42,000 employees and 26,000 contract workers of the public sector undertaking.
He gave this assurance when Telangana Deputy Chief Minister and Finance and Power Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who attended the launch event, expressed concern over Singareni not being allotted coal mines.
The deputy CM submitted a memorandum to Kishan Reddy, urging the Center not to auction coal mining blocks in Telangana and allocate them to Singareni.
He said all mining blocks in the state's coal belt area should be allotted to SCCL on a reserve basis.
The Deputy Chief Minister said if Singareni was not allocated new coal mines, its very existence would be at stake in the coming years.
Kishan Reddy, in his reply, assured that no decision detrimental to the interests of Singareni would be taken.
He clarified that the Center was not conducting an auction of coal mines just to earn revenue and asserted that it was the states and not the Center that were reaping its benefits.
He said there is a uniform policy for all companies to acquire coal mines.
Mentioning that the Center has 49 per cent stake in Singareni, the central minister said the Center has equal responsibility to strengthen the company.
Kishan Reddy said that he would review the problems faced by Singareni and that he would try to address them after discussing them with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his ministry and his company.
Kishan Reddy mentioned that Naini coal block in Odisha is listed in the Coal Mines Special Provisions Act, 2015 and was allotted to Singareni but for various reasons production had not started.
He assured the Deputy Chief Minister that the Center would discuss the issue with the Odisha government to ensure that production is started in mission mode.
He said once the Naini coal block becomes operational, it will be able to contribute to 15 per cent of Singareni's coal production.
He clarified that auction of coal mines is being carried out transparently as per Supreme Court guidelines to improve coal production.
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said that before the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, Singareni had complete control over mines in the state's coal belt.
He demanded that the allotment of two coal blocks in the state to private players be canceled and the same be handed over to Singareni.
He said that of the 39 coal mines in Singareni, 22 are on the verge of depletion and will close in the next 10 to 15 years, affecting the interests of 42,000 employees and 26,000 contract workers of the public sector undertaking.
