Kothagudem: The CPI, BJP and Congress affiliated mining trade unions engaged in credit war claiming their role in SCCL winning the bid for Prakasam Khani-2 opencast (PK-2 OC) dip side extension project at Manuguru in the district.
The leaders of Singareni Coal Mines Karmika Sangh of ABKMS-BMS (BJP); Singareni Collieries Workers Union of AITUC (CPI) and Singareni Coal Mines Labour Union INTUC of Congress have been organising celebrations for the past couple of days all over the SCCL area after the company won the OC project in a Central auction on Monday.
AITUC state president Vasireddy Sitaramaiah stated that they have successfully repelled pressure from the State government, ensuring the block went to Singareni. The government made GENCO participate in the auction aiming to hand it over to private companies, he alleged.
Kothagudem MLA Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao stated that the coal block allocation to Singareni was the result of the pressure he exerted on the government and workers’ struggles. It was ridiculous that some unions were claiming credit for the success, he said with reference to other trade unions’ efforts to portray it as their own achievement.
On the other hand Singareni Coal Mines Karmika Sangh area vice-president B Kishan and ABKMS secretary Madhava Naik said that securing the PK-2 OC project was a historic victory for the union. Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy played a pivotal role and facilitated the project awarded to Singareni amidst competition from GENCO, they said.
The Union Minister speaking to the media in New Delhi stated that fulfilling the demand was a matter of responsibility for him, not only as the Union Minister but also as a son of Telangana. Not to be left behind, Pinapaka MLA Payam Venkateswararlu claimed that as the son of an SCCL employee he made serious efforts for the coal block allocation to the company.
Meanwhile, the TBGKS RG-3 area vice president Nagelli Sambaiah noted that none of the unions or leaders could claim credit for the allocation of the PK-2 OC project to SCCL. The company with its vast experience in the coal industry rewrote history by winning the bid in the auction, he added.
The PK-2 OC project has around 180 million tonnes of G-8 grade coal reserves. With an annual output of six million tonnes for 25 years, it was expected to generate revenue of over Rs 43,000 crore.
