CURRENT AFFAIRS
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Description
The central government has entered into agreements with three local miners to begin regulated coal mining in the West Khasi Hills and East Jaintia Hills districts. This decision follows a decade-long ban on the hazardous practice of "rat-hole mining," which had been enforced by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
About Rat-Hole Mining
Rat-hole mining is an illegal coal extraction method characterized by narrow tunnels that resemble rodent burrows. It is commonly practiced in Meghalaya, where miners create small, cramped passages, often less than two meters in height, to extract coal. These tunnels are typically accessed using ropes and bamboo ladders. This mining method is particularly dangerous due to the risk of tunnel collapses and inadequate ventilation.
There are two main techniques used in rat-hole mining:
Side-Cutting Procedure - Miners dig narrow tunnels into hill slopes to reach thin coal seams.
Box-Cutting - This method involves creating a rectangular opening, followed by a vertical shaft that leads to horizontal tunnels for coal extraction.
Reasons Behind Rat-Hole Mining
Several factors contribute to the persistence of rat-hole mining in the region:
Poverty - Many local tribal communities engage in this mining method as a means of survival due to limited employment opportunities.
Land Ownership Issues - Ambiguous land titles complicate the regulation of mining activities, allowing illegal operations to continue.
High Demand for Coal - Both legal and illegal coal demand drives the practice of rat-hole mining.
Escrow Agreements For Legal Mining
The government has signed escrow agreements with mining project proponents, which involve Coal India Limited acting as a third party. These agreements ensure that assets are held by a neutral entity until specific conditions, such as compliance with legal requirements, are met.
Expansion Of Scientific Mining
In addition to the three mining sites that have received approval, 12 other applications are in the final stages of review. The Meghalaya government is working closely with the Ministry of Coal to ensure that coal mining in the state is conducted legally and scientifically moving forward.
Impact Of Coal Mining Ban
Before the 2014 ban, coal mining was a major economic contributor to Meghalaya, generating ?700 crore annually. The ban, however, was imposed due to the safety hazards associated with rat-hole mining, which had resulted in multiple worker fatalities over the years.
Role Of Katakey Committee
To ensure compliance with the NGT and Supreme Court rulings, the Meghalaya High Court appointed a one-man committee led by former judge Brojendra Prasad Katakey. The committee has been working on recommendations for sustainable and legal coal mining practices in the state.
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