Ramappa Temple Safe from Mining, Says Singareni

Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), a Telangana government public sector undertaking, on [date] asserted that its mining operations will not endanger the Ramappa Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Mulugu district, Telangana. The company stated that it has decided to proceed with the project only after conducting a comprehensive scientific study to evaluate any potential impact on the historic structure.

The clarification comes amid concerns raised by heritage conservationists and local communities about the proximity of mining activities to the 13th-century Kakatiya-era temple, which was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021. SCCL emphasized that the scientific study will be thorough and will inform all future actions, ensuring the temple's preservation. Officials from the company reiterated their commitment to balancing development with heritage conservation.

The statement is expected to ease tensions, but environmental and heritage groups remain cautious, calling for transparency in the study's methodology and findings. The outcome of the scientific study will be closely watched, as it could set a precedent for similar conflicts between mining interests and cultural heritage sites globally. SCCL has not yet announced a timeline for the study's completion.