BJP National Leader Ponguleti Seeks Relocation of Singareni Coal Bunker, Cites Health Risks to Telangana Village Residents

Sattupalli (Khammam) : BJP national leader Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy on Tuesday demanded the immediate relocation of a Singareni coal bunker located near Kishtaram village in Sattupalli mandal, alleging that coal dust and pollution from the facility have been posing a serious threat to the health and lives of local residents.

Sudhakar Reddy, accompanied by BJP Khammam district president Nelluri Koteswara Rao and the party’s state spokesperson Namburi Ramalingeswara Rao, visited Kishtaram village to assess the situation firsthand and interact with affected residents.

According to villagers, continuous emission of coal dust from the bunker has led to severe air pollution, resulting in an increase in respiratory ailments among the local population. They claimed that nearly 70 to 80 people had died over the years due to respiratory-related illnesses, which they attributed to prolonged exposure to pollution. The villagers also alleged that groundwater in the area had become contaminated, making it unsafe for drinking, while polluted water was reportedly entering residential premises.

Residents said they had submitted repeated representations to the Singareni management seeking remedial measures, but no concrete action had been taken. They further alleged that drinking water plants installed in the Singareni command area had not yet been commissioned and that regular medical camps, which they said were essential for monitoring public health, were not being conducted.

Addressing the gathering, Sudhakar Reddy said no industrial enterprise should place profits above the lives and well-being of citizens. He demanded that the coal bunker be shifted away from the village without delay to safeguard public health.

“If relocating the bunker is not immediately feasible, the authorities must ensure the rehabilitation and resettlement of the affected villagers in a safe location,” he said, adding that it was the responsibility of both the Singareni management and the government to protect the lives of the people.

The BJP leader also demanded the immediate provision of safe drinking water to the village, operationalisation of the already established water treatment plants, and the organisation of special medical camps to conduct health screenings for every household. He further called for an independent scientific study to assess the environmental and health impact of pollution in the area.

Sudhakar Reddy said the issue would soon be brought to the attention of Union Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy, seeking the Centre’s intervention to secure a permanent solution to the problems faced by Kishtaram residents.

Among those present during the visit were BJP state executive members E.V. Ramesh and Rudra Pradeep, district general secretary Naidu Raghava Rao, district vice-president Veeram Raju, district secretaries Sudarshan Mishra and Surender Reddy, Sattupalli mandal president Saali Shivakrishna, besides party workers, village elders and a large number of local residents.