Relevance: GS III (Disaster Management & Environment) | Source: The Hindu / Indian Express

1. The Tragedy: A Recurring Disaster

A massive explosion in an illegal coal mine in East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, has claimed the lives of 18 miners.

• Context: This tragedy occurred despite a standing ban by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) since April 2014. The incident highlights the continued failure of enforcement agencies to stop illegal extraction in the region.

2. What is “Rat-Hole” Mining?

• The Method: It is a primitive method of extracting coal where workers dig very narrow, horizontal tunnels (often just 3-4 feet high) into the side of hills.
• The Name: The tunnels are so small that miners—often children or small-framed adults—must crawl inside like rats to chip away coal.
• The Danger: These mines lack concrete pillars (roof support), ventilation, or emergency exits. They are notorious for collapsing or flooding from underground aquifers (as seen in the 2018 Ksan tragedy).

3. Why Does it Persist? (The Sixth Schedule Conflict)

• Land Rights: Meghalaya falls under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Here, land and minerals are often viewed as privately owned by communities or individuals, not the state.
• Conflict: Mine owners often argue that the NGT ban infringes on their customary rights to their land and resources.
• Livelihood: In the absence of other industries, the local population remains economically dependent on this hazardous trade.

UPSC Value Box

Q. With reference to coal mining in India, the term “Rat-Hole Mining” is most frequently associated with which of the following regions?

1. Chota Nagpur Plateau (Jharkhand)
2. Jaintia Hills (Meghalaya)
3. Neyveli Lignite Fields (Tamil Nadu)
4. Singareni Collieries (Telangana)

Correct Answer: (2)