Context:
The body of another worker, who was trapped inside a coal mine in Assam’s Dima Hasao district, was recovered on Saturday from the quarry during rescue operations.
Definition
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.
Legal Status
- Banned:
- This type of mining is banned by the National Green Tribunal
- Still practiced:
- The method remains to be popular in the Artisanal Mining Operations in Meghalaya
Techniques Employed
- 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.
