Rat-hole Mining
Why in news ?
Rat-hole mining has begun to rescue the trapped workers in Uttarkashi tunnel.
what is Rat-Hole Mining?
- Rat hole mining is a method of extracting coal from narrow, horizontal seams, prevalent in Meghalaya.
- The term “rat hole” refers to the narrow pits dug into the ground, typically just large enough for one person to descend and extract coal.
- Once the pits are dug, miners descend using ropes or bamboo ladders to reach the coal seams. The coal is then manually extracted using primitive tools such as pickaxes, shovels, and baskets.
Types:
- Side-Cutting Procedure: In the side-cutting procedure, narrow tunnels are dug on the hill slopes and workers go inside until they find the coal seam.
- The coal seam in the hills of Meghalaya is very thin, less than 2 m in most cases.
- Box-Cutting: In Box-cutting, a rectangular opening is made, varying from 10 to 100 sqm, and through that a vertical pit is dug, 100 to 400 feet deep.
Concerns of Rat hole mining
- Safety Concerns: Rat hole mining is often carried out in very small and unstable tunnels, lacking safety measures such as proper ventilation, structural support, or safety gear for the workers.
- In 2018, around 15 rat hole miners died inside a coal mine in the East Jaintia Hills district in Meghalaya.
- Environmental issues: The mining process can cause land degradation, deforestation, and water pollution.
- Rat-hole mining in Meghalaya had caused the water in the Kopili river (it flows through Meghalaya and Assam) to turn acidic.
- Loss of lives: This method of mining has faced severe criticism due to its hazardous working conditions, and numerous accidents leading to injuries and fatalities.
Reasons for the persistence of rat hole mining
- Lack of Alternative Livelihood: In some areas, there are limited alternative employment opportunities. Hence it is difficult for miners to transition to other professions.
- Lack of political will: For many regions rat hole mining is the main source of revenue.Thus authorities do not take strict action to regulate the practice.
- Poverty: Economic challenges and poverty drives individuals to engage in rat hole mining as a means of survival.
Source – Indian Express
