The quiet crisis of rat-hole mining

• The Gauhati High Court has ruled in favor of the mining tragedy in Umrangso, Assam, resulting in nine deaths and nine injuries.

• The tragedy is part of a series of accidents in the north-east, with at least 30 miners killed in Meghalaya in the past five years.

• The mining industry in Meghalaya and Assam has expanded dangerously in the 1980s due to industrial demand from West Bengal and Bangladesh.

• Rat-hole mining, a hazardous method of mining, is prevalent in the region, posing significant safety and environmental hazards.

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned rat-hole mining in 2014 due to environmental degradation and unsafe working conditions.

• Despite the ban, enforcement remains weak, with many illegal mines operating under the influence of powerful bureaucrats and coal mafias.

• Several states indirectly enable rat-hole mining by exploiting regulatory loopholes, often under pressure from coal mafias and local politicians.

• The lack of stringent State regulations allows illegal mining to persist, leading to recurring tragedies.

• A multi-faceted approach is needed to tackle rat-hole mining, including policy reforms, incorporating the ban into State-specific regulations, prioritizing alternative livelihoods for mining-dependent communities, and utilizing technology to enhance enforcement.