Naini block inaugurated by Bhatti; Kishan Reddy hails the move

metro india news  I hyderabad

In a historic moment marking the beginning of its national and global expansion, Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) officially commenced operations at the Naini Coal block in Chhendipada, Angul, Odisha from Wednesday.

Telangana Deputy Chief Minister and Energy Minister BhattiVikramarka Mallu virtually inaugurated the mine from Mahatma Jyoti Rao Phule Praja Bhavan, and extended his heartfelt wishes to the people of Odisha and Telangana. The successful launch of the Naini mine stands as a proud moment for Telangana and a key step toward Singareni’s future as a global energy enterprise.

Speaking on the occasion, Bhatti said this marked the first time in SCCL’s 136-year history that the company has launched coal mining operations outside Telangana. Describing the event as a "golden chapter" in Singareni’s journey, the Deputy Chief Minister emphasized that this milestone reflects a new era of growth and global ambition for the company. He credited the proactive leadership of Telangana Chief Minister  A. Revanth Reddy and his own persistent efforts in securing long-awaited approvals from the Union Coal Ministry — approvals that had been delayed for nine years.

Highlighting the commitment to development of Angul where the Naini mine is located, Bhatti Vikramarka assured that Singareni, as a public sector entity, would prioritize social responsibility along with commercial operations. He announced plans to set up a 1600 MW thermal power plant near Naini to generate employment and support local growth, and urged the Odisha government to assist in land acquisition for the project.

Bhatti extended gratitude to Union Coal Minister  Kishan Reddy, Union Minister  Dharmendra Pradhan, Odisha Chief Minister  Mohan Charan Majhi, and local MLA  Agasti Behera for their support in making the inauguration possible.

CMD of SCCL, N. Balaram, acknowledged the support of the Telangana government and reiterated plans for future expansion, including the upcoming thermal plant.  Also present at the ceremony were senior officials from both states, including Principal Secretary (Energy)  Sandeep Kumar Sultania, TRANSCO CMD  Krishna Bhaskar, and others..