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29-January-2025-Special-Article

January 29 @ 7:00 am - 11:30 pm

RAT-HOLE MINING

Rat-hole mining is a hazardous and primitive method of coal extraction. It involves digging narrow tunnels by hand, typically by local laborers, to mine coal. Though illegal, it is still practiced in certain parts of India, especially in regions like Assam and Meghalaya. The tragic incidents, such as the Dima Hasao coal mine tragedy in Assam, highlight the ongoing dangers of such unregulated mining practices.

What is Rat-Hole Mining?

  • Primitive and Dangerous: Rat-hole mining is a crude, labor-intensive method used to extract coal from small, narrow tunnels.
  • Tunnels: The tunnels are usually no more than 3-4 feet high and 2-3 feet wide, making them extremely dangerous, especially for children.
  • Location: Primarily practiced in the northeastern states of India, particularly in Assam and Meghalaya.

       

Methods of Coal Extraction

  • Side-Cutting Procedure: This involves digging narrow tunnels into hill slopes to reach coal seams, often no higher than 2 meters, in hilly terrain.
  • Box-Cutting: A rectangular opening is made, followed by digging a vertical pit. Horizontal tunnels resembling rat holes are then made for coal extraction.

Reasons for the Persistence of Rat-Hole Mining

  • Poverty: Many tribal communities in the region face limited job opportunities, and mining provides quick financial gains, despite its dangers.
  • Land Ownership Issues: Poorly defined land rights and unregulated mining practices enable the persistence of illegal mining operations.
  • High Coal Demand: Both legal and illegal coal markets continue to drive the demand for coal, sustaining this practice.

Challenges of Rat-Hole Mining

  • Safety Risks: These narrow tunnels are prone to collapsing, leading to frequent accidents. Lack of ventilation and safety measures often results in suffocation and injury.
  • For example, the 2018 Ksan mine flooding in Meghalaya killed 17 miners, and a 2024 explosion in Nagaland claimed six lives.
  • Environmental Harm: Rat-hole mining leads to deforestation, soil erosion, and water contamination. Acidic mine drainage (AMD) pollutes local rivers, harming water quality and biodiversity.
  • In Meghalaya, rivers like the Lukha River became highly acidic due to mining activities.
  • Social Issues: The practice involves the exploitation of child labor, where children, especially from Bangladesh and Nepal, are employed due to their ability to fit into narrow tunnels.
  • Reports suggest that over 70,000 children are involved in illegal mining.

Regulation of Rat-Hole Mining

National Regulations:

  • Illegal Status: Rat-hole mining is illegal under Indian law and should be regulated by the state and district authorities.
  • National Green Tribunal (NGT) Ban: In 2014, the NGT banned rat-hole mining due to fatalities, and the Supreme Court upheld the ban in 2019.
  • Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957: The practice is deemed illegal under this Act.

State-Specific Regulations:

  • Nagaland Coal Policy: Allows small-scale mining with strict conditions under the Small Pocket Deposit Licences (SPDLs).
  • Sixth Schedule: Tribal autonomy in areas like Meghalaya and Assam complicates enforcement of national laws, as local Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) have authority over land and resources.

International Context:

  • While international regulations do not directly address rat-hole mining, they encourage sustainable and safe mining practices, which may indirectly influence domestic policies.

Biomining: A Sustainable Alternative

Biomining is a more environmentally friendly technique used for metal extraction. This process involves microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, or plants to extract metals from ores. It is gaining attention as a sustainable alternative to traditional mining, especially in areas where metal contamination is a concern.

What is Biomining?

Eco-Friendly Extraction: Biomining utilizes microorganisms to extract metals like copper, gold, and uranium from ores.

Processes: The two main methods are:

  • Bioleaching: Microbes dissolve metals from ores for easier extraction.
  • Biooxidation: Microorganisms break down surrounding minerals to enrich target metals, making extraction easier.

Metals Extracted Using Biomining

  • Primary Metals: Biomining is primarily used for metals such as copper, nickel, uranium, and gold.
  • Sulfidic Ores: These metals are often found in sulfidic ores, which are ideal for biomining processes.

Advantages of Biomining

  • Environmental Benefits: Minimal hazardous waste and reduced carbon emissions compared to traditional mining methods.
  • Energy Efficient: Requires less energy, which helps in reducing the environmental impact.
  • Water Conservation: It uses water more efficiently, which is crucial in water-scarce regions.

Challenges of Biomining

  • Slow Process: Biomining takes more time compared to conventional methods, which limits its use in large-scale mining operations.
  • Limited Applicability: Not all ores are suitable for biomining, especially those without easily oxidizable metals.
  • Technical Expertise: Biomining requires specialized knowledge in microbiology, which can make it difficult to implement on a large scale.

Electrokinetic Mining: An Innovative Technique

Electrokinetic Mining (EKM) is an innovative and eco-friendly method for extracting rare earth elements (REEs). This technology uses an electric field to mobilize ions and extract valuable elements, significantly reducing environmental impact compared to traditional methods.

     

What is Electrokinetic Mining?

  • Electric Field Technology: EKM uses electric fields to move ions from rare earth deposits, enabling efficient extraction of elements like lithium and rare earth metals.
  • Efficiency: This method reduces the need for harmful leaching agents and uses less energy, making it an environmentally friendly option.

Advantages of Electrokinetic Mining

  • Reduced Environmental Impact: EKM decreases the use of leaching agents by 80% and reduces energy consumption by 60%.
  • High Recovery Rates: The process has a recovery rate of over 95%, improving the efficiency of rare earth element extraction.

Mains Question:

  1. Discuss the environmental, social, and economic challenges posed by rat-hole mining in northeastern India. Suggest sustainable alternatives to address these issues. (150 WORDS)

Details

Date:
January 29
Time:
7:00 am - 11:30 pm
Event Category:
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