Government committed to uninterrupted power supply, strengthening SCCL: Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Sunday said that the State government was committed to ensuring uninterrupted quality power supply while strengthening the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL).

Addressing the media at Tekulapalli in Bhadradri Kothagudem district , he said the government was implementing pioneering welfare initiatives to improve the dignity and economic empowerment of tribal communities. Under the Indira Soura Giri Jala Vikasam scheme, tribal farmers are being provided free solar-powered irrigation facilities including borewells and pump sets.

Accusing the previous BRS government of neglecting the SCCL, he said it failed to secure new coal blocks despite knowing that existing coal mines were getting exhausted.

He recalled that the UPA government had allotted the Tadicherla-II coal block to the SCCL in 2013, but the BRS government failed while the BJP-led Central government withheld the mining lease.

He said the present Congress government secured the coal block through sustained efforts and by exerting pressure on the Centre.

He alleged that the previous BRS government’s failure to participate in coal block auctions allowed the Sathupalli and Koyagudem blocks to go to private players.

Stating that coal mining in Scheduled Areas should remain with tribal communities or public sector organisations under the Regulation of the Land Transfer Act, Regulation 1/70, he said the State would continue its legal battle against the Centre’s move to ‘privatise’ such coal blocks. 

Mr. Vikramarka said unseasonal weather had pushed peak power demand from the usual 11,000 MW in July to 16,600 MW within a week, adding that officials had been instructed to ensure uninterrupted 24×7 power supply despite the record demand.