Hyderabad: Labour, Employment, Mines and Geology Minister Dr. G. Vivek Venkatswamy on Thursday said the Telangana government was committed to launching Singareni new mines and creating fresh employment opportunities to restore the organisation’s past strength.
The Minister visited the underground section of the KK-5 mine in the Mandamarri Singareni Area and inspected working conditions along with workers. He interacted directly with employees to understand their concerns related to employment, welfare and operational issues.
Workers requested the Minister to address Income Tax issues linked to PRC arrears and sought government support for housing facilities.
Speaking during the visit, Vivek Venkatswamy accused the previous BRS government of neglecting Singareni and alleged that no new mines were established during its tenure despite financial exploitation of the corporation.
He urged workers to focus on quality coal production while strictly maintaining worker safety standards in mining operations.
Singareni new mines expected to create jobs
Later, the Minister attended a felicitation programme for Shram Shakti Award recipient Yedukola Pawan Kumar at the KK-5 mine.
Addressing workers and officials, Vivek Venkatswamy said the Kaka family shared a long association with Singareni workers and called for collective efforts for the development of the organisation.
Recalling former Union Minister Kaka Venkataswamy’s contribution, he said nearly Rs 400 crore had been secured for Singareni and around one lakh jobs were protected during that period.
The Minister stated that the Telangana government was ensuring Singareni’s participation in coal block tenders in line with Central government policies.
He also informed workers that the issue of Income Tax on PRC arrears had been brought to the notice of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. According to him, MP Vamsi Krishna was making efforts in Parliament to secure a pension of Rs 10,000 for retired Singareni workers.
Vivek Venkatswamy said the RKP Opencast Phase-2 project alone would generate employment for nearly 5,000 people after obtaining forest clearances.
He further assured contract workers that the issue of increasing minimum wages would be resolved under the leadership of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.
Mandamarri Area General Manager N. Radhakrishna, trade union leaders, officials and workers attended the programme. The Minister also felicitated award recipients Pawan Kumar and Pulluri Laxman.