Claims of a 40 lakh metric tonne coal scam involving an INR 1,600 crore ransom have been refuted by the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), which is part of the Ministry of Coal. In order to guarantee full accountability and transparency, the company has implemented state-of-the-art digital systems such as SAP, Coal Net, RFID, GPS tracking, CCTV surveillance, and electronic weighbridges to monitor its coal production, transportation, stock management, and dispatch activities.
Claims of a huge coal scam involving the loss of around 40 lakh tonnes of coal, worth at around ₹1,600 crore, have been vehemently denied by Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL). The state-run coal miner has made it clear that allegations of massive stockpile anomalies are unfounded and do not represent the way the business actually operates.
G. Kishan Reddy, minister of coal in the union, recently wrote to A. Revanth Reddy, chief minister of Telangana, demanding an immediate probe into media allegations alleging severe coal shortages inside SCCL; this clarification follows his letter. The matter has also sparked political discussion, as the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), an opposition party, has called for a thorough investigation.
All aspects of coal production and supply are tracked by SCCL’s extensive digital ecosystem, the company claims. According to the business, rail transit accounts for about 85% of coal supply, while road transport accounts for the remaining 15%. Digital traceability is ensured through the management of coal allocation, dispatch schedules, consumer details, and supply quantities through an integrated SAP-based platform.
Coal Net, SAP, and other web-based monitoring systems constantly record data pertaining to each metric tonne of coal, according to senior business officials. Electronic weighbridges are used to measure the weight of coal being transported by road, and geofencing, GPS/GPRS tracking systems, and barriers enabled by radio frequency identification are used to monitor the movements of vehicles.
Additionally, the corporation mentioned that all information regarding the loading and delivery of railway waggons is digitally recorded and validated. SCCL has a comprehensive security system in place that includes hologram challans, flying squads, security officers, check-posts, stockyard monitoring, RFID systems and round-the-clock CCTV surveillance. They also conduct regular surprise inspections at coal processing plants, transportation corridors and mines.
The administration of SCCL has stated that the claims of missing or stolen coal are without merit, as the whole coal handling process is monitored by a sophisticated and secure system. The current systems, according to officials, make it very difficult, if not impossible, to covertly divert or disappear substantial amounts of coal.
Union Minister Kishan Reddy brought attention to reports asserting that over 40 lakh tonnes of coal valued at ₹1,600 crore had disappeared from SCCL reserves in his message dated June 10. According to him, the company’s financial stability and future growth possibilities could be severely affected if the claims turned out to be accurate.
While discussing SCCL’s financial situation, the minister mentioned that the corporation is now dealing with difficulties caused by the Telangana government’s unpaid debts exceeding ₹51,500 crore. He warned that the coal producer’s finances may take a serious hit if any irregularities were to be discovered.
The Government of Telangana (51%) and the Government of India (49%) own SCCL equally; it is one of the biggest coal mining businesses in India.
Image: TOI
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