The Union government has set up a two-member technical panel to look into the cancellation of a tender related to the Naini coal block in Telangana. The tender was meant to appoint a private developer and operator for the coal block, which was originally allotted to the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL).
The Telangana government recently cancelled the tender, leading the Centre to step in and review the matter. To examine the issue closely, the Union government has formed a two-member technical team to study the Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) and the process followed for selecting a Mine Developer and Operator (MDO).
Union Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy said the Centre’s action is aimed at protecting the interests of workers and ensuring transparency in the process. He said the review would help make sure that proper rules were followed and that there was no unfairness in the decision.
He also accused the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government and the Congress of political interference and poor management in handling the project. According to him, such actions could affect coal production and the livelihoods of many workers connected to the mine.
The panel is expected to submit its findings after studying the tender documents and related procedures. Based on its report, further steps may be taken to ensure smooth and fair operations at the Naini coal block.