K.T. Rama Rao Alleges Rs 3,000 cr Coal Import Scam Plans, Demands Scrapping Deal
Demanding an independent investigation into the proposals, Rama Rao questioned the basis on which the private company was being considered for the coal import.
Hyderabad: BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao on Thursday alleged that the Congress government led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy was “conspiring to create a power crisis to facilitate a `3,000 crore foreign coal import scam.”
In an open letter to Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Union coal minister G. Kishan Reddy, Rama Rao demanded an independent probe, and disclosure of all agreements, and a White Paper on the proposals to import coal via what he called a “dubious” private company.
He charged that the government was weakening Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) while preparing to “facilitate expensive imports through questionable arrangements involving a private company” that he identified as Bhotra Logistics, and demanded that this proposal be scrapped.
Rama Rao, who said the actual import was yet to take place, alleged that the proposed arrangement could involve commissions of `1,500 per tonne, potentially translating into a `3,000 crore scam.
Demanding an independent investigation into the proposals, Rama Rao questioned the basis on which the private company was being considered for the coal import.
He also demanded an explanation on the decline in SCCL’s coal production from approximately 70.02 million tonnes in 2023–24 to around 58 million tonnes in 2025–26.
He sought a comprehensive, institution-wise account of the approximately `60,000 crore in outstanding dues reportedly owed to Singareni by various departments.
On the Yadadri Thermal Power Station, Rama Rao cited the reported allocation of 14 million tonnes per annum of G9-grade coal from Singareni mines and the supply agreement signed in April 2022.
He questioned why domestic supply concerns were not being resolved before foreign imports were proposed.