Tragedy in Assam Coal Mine (January 6, 2025):
Nine workers were trapped in a flooded coal mine in Dima Hasao district, Assam.
Bodies of four workers have been recovered; rescue operations are ongoing.
Supreme Court's Question to Union Government (2019):
The Supreme Court questioned the Union government about the role of officials in enabling illegal mining, citing loss of lives.
The query remains unanswered, highlighting the persistent issue of illegal mining.
What is Rat-Hole Mining?
Definition and Types:
Named for Narrow Tunnels: Involves digging tunnels barely allowing workers to crawl in and out.
Two Types:
Side-Cutting: Dug on hill slopes by following visible coal seams.
Box-Cutting: Pits are dug up to 400 feet deep, and tunnels extend in various directions resembling octopus tentacles.
Hazards:
Poor ventilation, risk of collapse, and flooding make it extremely dangerous.
Workers earn significantly higher wages but face life-threatening risks.
Why is Rat-Hole Mining Banned?
Legal Loopholes in Meghalaya:
As a Sixth Schedule State, Meghalaya's landowners control the minerals beneath, bypassing the Coal Mines Nationalisation Act, 1973.
Cheap manual labor from Assam, Nepal, and Bangladesh enabled this crude and hazardous method.
Environmental and Health Concerns:
Environmental Damage:
Land degradation, deforestation, and polluted rivers (e.g., Lukha and Myntdu became too acidic to sustain aquatic life).
Health Hazards:
High concentrations of sulphates and heavy metals in water, posing health risks.
Impact on Human Rights:
Child labor and human trafficking prevalent in the mining sector, with children often preferred for their small size.
Reports by NGOs like Impulse and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) flagged these abuses.
National Green Tribunal (NGT) Ban (2014):
Based on mounting evidence of environmental degradation, health risks, and loss of lives, the NGT banned rat-hole mining in Meghalaya.
Despite the ban, illegal mining persists, causing further tragedies, such as the 2018 East Jaintia Hills incident where 17 miners drowned.
What Led to the NGT Ban?
Activist and NGO Campaigns:
Impulse NGO: Flagged child labor and human trafficking in coal mines.
Collaborative reports estimated 70,000 children, primarily from Bangladesh and Nepal, were employed.
Pressure from NHRC: Forced the Meghalaya government to admit the presence of child labor in mines.
Public Outcry and Evidence:
Reports of environmental degradation, unsafe working conditions, and repeated loss of life led to national and international scrutiny.
The Way Forward
Scientific Mining as a Potential Solution:
Government Efforts:
In May 2023, four mining leases were approved by the Coal Ministry, with plans for sustainable and legally compliant "scientific" mining.
Challenges:
Critics argue "scientific" mining may remain a label, driven by profit motives rather than genuine environmental or safety considerations.
Key Recommendations:
Strict Enforcement: Strengthen legal mechanisms to prevent illegal mining and ensure compliance with safety and environmental norms.
Support for Miners: Provide alternative livelihoods for laborers dependent on unsafe mining practices.
Community Engagement: Include local communities and activists in discussions on sustainable mining practices.
Environmental Monitoring: Establish independent agencies to oversee mining activities and environmental impacts.
Balancing Economics and Safety:
Meghalaya’s thin coal seams make advanced mining methods economically challenging.
A balance must be struck between resource extraction and the safety, rights, and well-being of workers and the environment.
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