January 31, 2025

Introduction:

The central government has signed agreements with three local miners to commence scientific coal mining in two districts (West Khasi Hills and East Jaintia Hills districts). This decision comes after a decade-long ban on unscientific “rat-hole mining” imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

About Rat-Hole Mining

• Rat-hole mining is an illegal method of coal extraction resembling rodent burrows.
• It is prevalent in Meghalaya and involves creating narrow tunnels that are often less than two metres high.
• Miners descend into these cramped spaces using ropes and bamboo ladders.
• The process is dangerous due to the risk of tunnel collapses and poor ventilation.
• There are two primary techniques used in rat-hole mining
  • Side-Cutting Procedure: Miners dig narrow tunnels into hill slopes to access thin coal seams.
  • Box-Cutting: This method involves creating a rectangular opening followed by a vertical pit, leading to horizontal tunnels for coal extraction.

Causes of Rat-Hole Mining

Several factors contribute to the persistence of rat-hole mining:

• Poverty: Local tribal communities often resort to this method as a means of survival due to limited livelihood options.
• Land Ownership Issues: Ambiguous land titles complicate the establishment of regulated mines, allowing illegal operations to flourish.
• Coal Demand: Continuous demand for coal, both legal and illegal, drives the rat-hole mining practice.

Escrow Agreements for Mining

• Escrow Agreement: A legal contract where a third party holds assets until specific conditions are met.
• Escrow agreements were signed between the Controller of Coal (Govt. of India) and the mining project proponents.
• Coal India Limited is the third party in these agreements.

Future Expansion of Scientific Mining

• Apart from the three approved mining sites, 12 more applications are in advanced approval stages.
• The Meghalaya government is working closely with the Ministry of Coal to restart coal mining legally.

Impact of Coal Mining Ban

• Before the ban in 2014, the coal mining industry was a major revenue source for Meghalaya, generating ₹700 crore annually.
• The ban was imposed due to safety risks, as rat-hole mining involved digging narrow tunnels, leading to several worker deaths over the years.

Katakey Committee’s Role

• The Meghalaya High Court appointed a one-man committee led by former judge Brojendra Prasad Katakey to ensure compliance with the NGT and Supreme Court’s rulings.
• The committee has made several recommendations regarding sustainable and legal coal mining.