KTR Accuses Telangana CM of Creating Power Crisis for Coal Import Scandal

Hyderabad, October 15 (Daily Kiran) : K.T. Rama Rao, the executive president of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), launched a scathing attack on Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Thursday. He accused Reddy of deliberately creating a crisis in coal and power to facilitate a ₹3,000 crore scam through proposed foreign coal imports.

Rama Rao alleged that the state government is undermining the Singareni Collieries Company Limited while paving the way for costly imports through suspicious agreements with Bhotra Logistics. In an open letter addressed to Chief Minister Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, and Union Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy, he demanded the public release of all information related to the proposed imports, including negotiations, tender documents, draft agreements, pricing, and the criteria for selecting Bhotra Logistics.

Popularly known as KTR, he claimed that the proposed arrangement could involve a commission of ₹1,500 per ton, potentially resulting in a total scam of ₹3,000 crore. He called for an independent investigation into these proposals, questioning why Bhotra Logistics was being considered for the job. He emphasized that no imports have commenced yet and insisted that all decisions and financial arrangements be disclosed before proceeding.

KTR also raised concerns about the decline in coal production from Singareni, which dropped from approximately 70.02 million tons in 2023-24 to about 58 million tons in 2025-26. He questioned the government’s failure to strengthen domestic production and ensure adequate coal supply, especially given the anticipated increase in power demand.

He demanded a complete account of Singareni’s outstanding payments, requesting clarity on the total amount owed, what has been paid, and what liabilities remain. Referring to the Yadadri Thermal Power Station, KTR noted that an allocation of 14 million tons of G9-grade coal from Singareni mines was agreed upon in April 2022. He asked why issues related to domestic supply were not resolved before proposing foreign imports.

KTR called for transparency in contracts related to coal and ash handling at Yadadri, questioning why the state’s power companies, which possess the necessary expertise, are outsourcing this work. He criticized Union Coal Minister Kishan Reddy for failing to protect Singareni’s interests. The BRS leader demanded an independent investigation into the proposed import arrangement, a white paper on foreign coal purchases, disclosure of all transactions related to Bhotra Logistics, a detailed report on the decline in Singareni’s production, and an audited account of outstanding payments.

He warned that any attempt to weaken Singareni, harm domestic coal resources, or impose unnecessary financial burdens on Telangana would face strong opposition from the BRS. KTR called for accountability from both state and central governments, insisting that all relevant documents be made public.