Bharat Rashtra Samithi working president K.T. Rama Rao has alleged that Telangana’s proposed foreign coal imports could enable a Rs 3,000-crore scam, and has demanded an independent investigation, disclosure of agreements and withdrawal of the arrangement.
In an open letter issued on Thursday to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Union Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy, Rama Rao alleged that the Congress government was creating conditions for a power crisis to facilitate expensive coal imports. He said the actual import had not yet taken place.
Rama Rao identified Bhotra Logistics as the private company allegedly being considered for the arrangement and described the proposal as questionable. He alleged that commissions of up to Rs 1,500 per tonne could be involved, potentially translating into a Rs 3,000-crore scam. The allegations have not been established through an investigation, and the report did not include a response from the state government, the Union coal ministry or the company.
The dispute centres on the role of Singareni Collieries Company Limited, Telangana’s state-owned coal producer. Rama Rao accused the government of weakening the company while preparing to facilitate imports through a private intermediary. He demanded a White Paper on the proposals and a comprehensive account of the agreements and decision-making process behind the plan.
He also questioned a reported decline in Singareni’s coal production, citing a fall from approximately 70.02 million tonnes in 2023–24 to around 58 million tonnes in 2025–26. The source report did not provide an official explanation for the figures or clarify whether the comparison involved the same production measurement and reporting basis.
Rama Rao further sought an institution-wise account of approximately Rs 60,000 crore in outstanding dues reportedly owed to Singareni by various government departments. The demand links the proposed import question to the financial condition of the state-owned producer and to the ability of public agencies to pay for coal already supplied.
The BRS leader also referred to the Yadadri Thermal Power Station. He said the plant had a reported allocation of 14 million tonnes per annum of G9-grade coal from Singareni mines under a supply agreement signed in April 2022. He questioned why domestic supply concerns were not being resolved before foreign coal imports were considered.
The allegations place three immediate questions before the authorities: whether a formal import proposal exists, on what basis a private company was being considered, and whether Singareni can meet the requirements linked to Telangana’s thermal power stations. Rama Rao has asked for an independent probe and publication of the relevant agreements. No further action or official response was reported in the supplied account.
