NGT takes suo motu cognisance of proposed coal mine near Ramappa Temple | Hyderabad News

Hyderabad: The National Green Tribunal’s Principal Bench at Delhi took suo motu cognisance of reports that a proposed coal mine near the UNESCO-recognised Ramappa Temple and its adjoining lake in Telangana’s Mulugu district could endanger the heritage site.A bench of chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Dr Afroz Ahmad registered a case and impleaded as respondents the Telangana Pollution Control Board, the Mulugu district collector, the Central Pollution Control Board, the ministry of environment, Forest and Climate Change’s Chennai regional office, and the Central Ground Water Authority, and issued notices to them on Nov 4.The bench directed these respondents to file affidavits before the Southern Zonal Bench at Chennai at least one week before the next hearing.“Any respondent filing directly without an advocate must remain virtually present to assist the Tribunal,” said the bench.Since the matter falls within the Southern Zonal Bench’s jurisdiction, the Tribunal transferred the matter, along with its original records, to the Chennai Bench, while adjourning the matter to Dec 21 for further hearing.According to the news report published in Oct 2026, Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) is preparing to go ahead with the project despite objections from conservationists. Excavation would reportedly take place about 300 metres from the lake.The article also cited the Geological Survey of India as noting that water levels in the lake could influence groundwater movement towards the proposed mine through geological lineaments and faults.The 800-year-old Kakatiya Rudreshwara Temple, popularly known as Ramappa Temple, stands on a sandbox foundation and is already said to be showing signs of distress.The Tribunal observed that the matter indicates a violation of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and raises substantial issues of compliance with environmental norms and implementation of scheduled enactments.Relying on precedential Supreme Court rulings, the bench initiated a suo motu proceeding in the matter.