Understanding rat-hole mining
- The recent rescue operation in the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand brought attention to the use of rat-hole mining.
- This crude method had been banned in 2014 by NGT due to safety, environmental, and ethical concerns.
Rat-Hole Mining
- It involves extracting coal from narrow, horizontal seams using narrow pits dug into the ground.
- These pits, resembling rat holes, are typically just large enough for a person to descend and extract coal.
- Miners descend into these narrow pits using ropes or bamboo ladders to reach coal seams.
- The coal is then manually extracted using primitive tools such as pickaxes, shovels, and baskets.
- Rat-hole mining has two primary types namely side-cutting and box-cutting.
- In side-cutting, narrow tunnels are dug on hill slopes until the coal seam is found.
- In box-cutting, a rectangular opening is made, and a vertical pit is dug to reach the coal seam.
Reasons for Ban
- Unregulated Mining
- Lack of government control in Meghalaya, where landowners own minerals.
- The Coal Mines Nationalisation Act of 1973 does not apply.
- Unregulated mining led to safety hazards and environmental degradation.
- Acidic rivers, land degradation, and health issues prompted the ban.
- Adverse Impacts
- Asphyxiation because of poor ventilation, collapse of mines due to lack of structural support, and flooding.
- Land degradation, deforestation, and water pollution with toxic elements.
- High concentrations of sulphates, iron, and heavy metals in water.
- These factors led to the NGT banning rat hole mining in Meghalaya in 2014
The NGT Ban
- National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned rat-hole mining in Meghalaya in April 2014.
- Environmentalists and human rights activists flagged the hazards of rat hole mining.
- Reports revealed human trafficking and child labour issues.
- About 70,000 children mostly from Bangladesh and Nepal were employed in these mines
Current Scenario
- Illegal mining continues despite the ban, leading to tragedies.
- Interim reports highlighted ongoing illegal activities and loss of lives.
- The stakes for a section of locals have been so high that the State government is under pressure to resume mining legally.
- Meghalaya Chief Minister said that the Coal Ministry approved mining leases for 4 of the 17 prospective licence applicants.
- This would lead to the commencement of ‘scientific’ mining ensuring minimal environmental impact.