Context:
The Assam coal mining tragedy occurred when a sudden influx of water flooded an illegal rat-hole mine in Dima Hasao district, Assam on January 6, 2025. The mine was abandoned by the state’s Mines and Minerals Department 12 years ago.
Definition and Hazards of Rat-Hole Mining
Rat-hole mining, a method of manually digging narrow holes in North East India for coal extraction, is banned by the National Green Tribunal but still used by artisanal mining operations in Meghalaya.
Techniques
- Side Cutting Method
- Coal seams traverse along hill slopes.
Seams are visible at the outer edge of rocks.
- Coal seams traverse along hill slopes.
- Box Cutting Method
- A pit is dug which has a width of 5 square meters and a depth of 400 feet in order to collect the coal.
- Dangerous Conditions
- The employees face extreme dangers due to the narrow, dangerous tunnels.
- Eco-Negative Impact
- Serious damages to local ecosystems and landscapes.
- Inrequent Mine Accidents
- Many deaths and injuries take place in these mines.
- Hazards
- The risk of flood, health, environmental hazard, and the inability to gain the economic feasibility.
Ban and Continued Practice
- It was banned by the NGT in 2014. Because it’s a dangerous operation which causes hazardous environment.
- Supreme Court Observation (2019) questioned the “connivance” of officials in the continuation of illegal mining.
- Regulation is still lax, allowing the illegal business to thrive.
Dima Hasao Tragedy
- Administrative Failure
- Assam Chief Minister said that it was probably an illegal mine abandoned.
- These mines continue despite the ban on account of lapses in administration and unscrupulous exploitation.
