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14th January 2025 (13 Topics)

Rat-Hole Mining

Context

The recent incident in Dima Hasao district of Assam, where several workers were trapped due to flooding in a rat-hole mine, highlights the ongoing dangers of this unregulated mining practice.

What is Rat-Hole Mining?

  • Rat-hole mining is a method of coal extraction commonly used in the narrow, horizontal coal seams of Northeast India, particularly in Meghalaya.
  • It involves digging narrow pits or tunnels, referred to as "rat holes," that are just large enough for one person to enter. Workers descend into these pits using ropes or bamboo ladders to extract coal manually with basic tools like pickaxes and shovels.
  • There are two main types of rat-hole mining:
    • Side-Cutting: Narrow tunnels are dug on hill slopes until a coal seam is found, typically less than 2 meters thick.
    • Box-Cutting: A rectangular opening is created, and a vertical pit is dug up to 400 feet deep, with horizontal tunnels cut for coal extraction.
  • The National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned rat-hole mining in 2014 due to its severe environmental and safety risks. The ban was upheld in 2015 after reports of fatal accidents, particularly during the rainy season when mines were prone to flooding.
  • Despite the ban, illegal rat-hole mining persists, especially in areas like Meghalaya, due to a lack of viable alternative livelihoods for the local communities.

Safety and Environmental Concerns:

  • Safety Hazards: The mining process is dangerous due to the lack of proper ventilation, structural support, and safety measures. There have been numerous accidents and fatalities, especially when tunnels collapse or are flooded.
  • Environmental Impact: Rat-hole mining leads to land degradation, deforestation, and water pollution, as the process disturbs large areas of the landscape without proper waste management.
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