Rat Miners: Heroes Of The Abyss
Posted by admin on 2023-12-20 |
Last month,
the Silkyara Tunnel collapse drew nationwide attention when 41 workers involved
in a highway construction project found themselves trapped for 16 days. The
rescue operation, which involved national and international experts and teams,
only saw the light of success when unscientific and non-exotic ‘Rat Miners’
entered the picture. Indeed, Rat Miners have been instrumental in the success
of the rescue operation and have ever since been garlanded as heroes in the
media and households. This has led to a resurgence of interest in Rat Mining.
What is Rat mining and why it is harmful?
Rat mining
or Rat-hole mining is a method of extracting coal from narrow, horizontal
openings driven into hillsides. These holes, often just large enough for a
person to crawl through, are dug by hand, making the process extremely
hazardous. In Meghalaya, where rat hole mining is prevalent, miners work in
precarious conditions without adequate safety measures. The absence of proper
ventilation and structural support poses severe risks to the miners' lives, and
the environmental impact is equally concerning.
The hazards
of rat-hole mining include asphyxiation due to poor ventilation, mine collapse
from lack of structural support, and flooding. Beyond safety concerns,
unregulated mining contributes to land degradation, deforestation, and water
pollution with high concentrations of sulphates, iron, and toxic heavy metals.
In
Meghalaya, a tragic incident in January 2019 saw the death of at least 15
miners who were trapped for over a month in a "rat hole" mine. This
event was just one of the numerous mining tragedies in the state, where rights
groups estimate that between 2007 and 2014, 10,000 to 15,000 lives were lost in
such mines.
Rat-Hole Mining: Hazardous Tradition in Meghalaya
The
practice of rat-hole mining, though prohibited in the 1970s when India
nationalized its coal mines, continues in Meghalaya. The state, classified as a
Sixth Schedule State, is exempt from the Coal Mines Nationalization Act of
1973, leaving the government with limited control over the land. Landowners,
who also own the minerals beneath, engage in coal mining, particularly after
Meghalaya gained statehood in January 1972. However, the challenging terrain
and associated expenses deter mine owners from using advanced drilling
machines. As a result, laborers, mainly from Assam, Nepal, and neighboring
Bangladesh, risk the dangers of rat-hole mining for higher wages compared to
other employment options.
Human Trafficking and Child Labor Concerns
Environmentalists
and human rights activists have long raised concerns about rat-hole mining in
Meghalaya. The NGO Impulse, based in Meghalaya, brought attention to issues
such as human trafficking and child labor in these mines. Reports by the NGO in
collaboration with other organizations estimated that around 70,000 children,
primarily from Bangladesh and Nepal, were employed in these mines due to their
size. Although the State’s Department of Mining and Geology initially refuted
this claim, under pressure from the National Human Rights Commission, it later
admitted in June 2013 that 222 children were indeed employed in rat-hole mines
of the East Jaintia Hills district.
Government's Limited Intervention
In response
to the environmental and human rights concerns, the National Green Tribunal
(NGT) banned rat-hole mining in 2014, citing its unscientific nature and the
threats it posed to the environment and miners. Despite this ban, in May 2023,
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announced that the Coal Ministry had
approved mining leases for four out of 17 prospective license applicants. The
chief minister claimed that these approvals would pave the way for
"scientific" mining, minimizing environmental impact through
sustainable and legally compliant extraction procedures.
Illicit Practices Persist
However,
the persistence of small mine owners employing individuals, including children,
for illegal coal extraction remains a challenge. The federal government,
influenced by the state's remote location and the perceived low quality of its
coal, has not intervened effectively in curbing these illicit practices.
