Hyderabad: Former MP and senior BRS leader B. Vinod Kumar on Tuesday demanded that the Telangana government abandon the proposed Ramappa coal mine. He said open-cast mining near the UNESCO World Heritage Site should not be permitted.
Vinod Kumar opposed Singareni Collieries Company Limited’s proposed mining project near Ramappa Temple at Venkatapur village in Mulugu district. He called for the project to be stopped permanently.
He addressed reporters at Telangana Bhavan alongside former MLA Gandra Venkata Ramana Reddy. Senior BRS leaders Lakshman Rao and C. Kalyan Rao were also present. Vinod Kumar said Ramappa Temple was built nearly 800 years ago during the Kakatiya era. He described the monument as an example of the region’s architectural mastery.
The temple received UNESCO World Heritage status on June 25, 2021. Vinod Kumar said it was the only temple in the Telugu states to receive the recognition. He attributed the achievement to sustained efforts by former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao and the Kakatiya Heritage Trust.
Proposed Ramappa coal mine raises heritage concerns
Citing SCCL’s assessments, Vinod Kumar said the proposed Ramappa coal mine would be located about five kilometres from the historic monument. He said the identified coal reserves were projected to last only 19 years. “Will they erase an 800-year-old architectural marvel from history for the sake of coal that will last barely 19 years?” he asked.
Vinod Kumar said the heritage site should remain protected regardless of the mineral value of the surrounding area. He added that mining should not be allowed even if gold was discovered in the soil. The BRS leader also said the proposed mine contained only low-grade G8 coal. According to him, that grade of coal was unsuitable for power generation.
Vinod Kumar further referred to requirements imposed by the Union government in 2021. He said prior clearance from archaeological authorities was mandatory for coal extraction in the vicinity of Ramappa Temple.
However, he alleged that Singareni Collieries was attempting to bypass this requirement based on external recommendations. He demanded that the archaeological clearance condition be strictly enforced.
Vinod Kumar also appealed to Union Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy to intervene. He noted that Kishan Reddy held the Union Tourism portfolio when Ramappa Temple secured UNESCO World Heritage status.
He urged the Union minister to take up the proposed Ramappa coal mine with Singareni Collieries. Vinod Kumar called for the open-cast mining proposal to be halted permanently to protect the heritage site.