Rat-Hole Mining: A Risky Rescue Method in Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse

Efforts to rescue 41 workers trapped in the collapsed Silkyara-Barkot tunnel face setbacks as drilling machinery breaks down. In response, rescuers turn to rat-hole mining to reach the stranded workers.

The Setback and the Shift to Rat-Hole Mining

After encountering a major setback with the drilling machinery breaking down, rescuers at the Silkyara-Barkot tunnel are adopting an unconventional approach – rat-hole mining. The machine drilling through the debris faced challenges due to a broken auger joint, prompting rescuers to explore alternative methods.

Understanding Rat-Hole Mining

Rat-Hole Mining: An Overview

Rat-hole mining is a unique method primarily used for extracting coal from narrow, horizontal seams, especially prevalent in Meghalaya. The term “rat hole” refers to the narrow pits dug into the ground, just large enough for one person to descend and extract coal.

Process of Rat-Hole Mining

Miners descend into the narrow pits using ropes or bamboo ladders to reach coal seams. The coal is then manually extracted using primitive tools such as pickaxes, shovels, and baskets. Two main types of rat-hole mining exist – side-cutting and box-cutting. In side-cutting, narrow tunnels are dug on hill slopes until the coal seam is found. In box-cutting, a rectangular opening is made, and a vertical pit is dug, leading to horizontal tunnels for coal extraction.

Environmental and Safety Concerns

Risks Associated with Rat-Hole Mining

Despite its historical use, rat-hole mining poses significant safety and environmental hazards. The mines are often unregulated, lacking safety measures such as proper ventilation, structural support, or safety gear for workers. Additionally, the process contributes to land degradation, deforestation, and water pollution.

Controversies Surrounding Rat-Hole Mining

The method has faced severe criticism due to hazardous working conditions, environmental damage, and numerous accidents leading to injuries and fatalities. Attempts by authorities to regulate or ban such practices often face challenges due to economic factors and the absence of viable alternative livelihoods for the local population.

Ban on Rat-Hole Mining and Subsequent Developments

In 2014, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned rat-hole mining, citing cases of flooding during the rainy season resulting in fatalities. The ban was retained in 2015, particularly addressing the prevalent use of this method in Meghalaya for coal mining.

In response to the ban, the Meghalaya state government appealed to the Supreme Court, seeking reconsideration. The legal battle reflects the ongoing struggle to balance economic interests with the environmental and safety concerns associated with rat-hole mining.

Month: Current Affairs - November, 2023

Category: India Nation & States Current Affairs