Distressing regularity: On Manipur’s rat-hole mines
GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Land reforms· Prelims + Mains·
Why in news
An explosion at an illegal rat-hole mine in Meghalaya on February 5th killed at least 18 workers, highlighting the persistent issue of unregulated coal mining despite a 2014 National Green Tribunal order.
Background
An explosion at an illegal rat-hole mine in Meghalaya on February 5th resulted in at least 18 fatalities. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had previously ordered a cessation of such operations in 2014.
Facts for Prelims
- BodyNational Green Tribunal (NGT): Body that ordered the cessation of rat-hole mining in 2014
- PlaceMeghalaya: State where the fatal rat-hole mine explosion occurred
- Fact18 workers: Number of fatalities reported in the February 5th explosion
For Mains
Q. Discuss the regulatory and socio-economic challenges in curbing illegal rat-hole mining in India and suggest measures to ensure environmental compliance.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Enforcement gap: Fragmented ownership and contractorships complicating the identification and policing of illegal mining sites
- Socio-economic dependency: Local reliance on coal income creating resistance to transition toward alternative livelihoods
- Technological oversight: Need for mandatory GPS tracking and community-led monitoring to bypass local enforcement hurdles
Keywords: Regulatory oversight · Socio-economic dependency · Environmental compliance · Fragmented ownership · Community monitoring
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