Panel flags absence of policy to shut mines in Meghalaya, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• A panel constituted by the High Court of Meghalaya flagged the State's delay in adopting a Mine Closure Policy for rat-hole mines.
• The Justice (retired) B.P. Katakey Committee submitted its 39th Interim Report, highlighting the absence of a comprehensive action plan.
• The report noted serious gaps in the scrutiny of coal-based industries, particularly coke oven plants.
• Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for two pilot restoration projects by Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited (CMPDIL) are pending before the National Green Tribunal (NGT)-constituted Oversight Committee.
• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned hazardous rat-hole mining in Meghalaya in April 2014.

Meghalaya Mining.png

Detailed Insights:

• The Katakey Committee emphasized the need to seal abandoned and illegally operated mines that pose dangers to humans and livestock.
• Instances of abandoned mine pits being used to dump bodies were also highlighted in the report.
• The DPRs for restoration projects at Sutnga and Arenggtim focus on land restoration but lack adequate protective measures like fencing.
• Thousands of open coal mines exist across Meghalaya, with approximately 60,000 in East Jaintia Hills district alone.
• Illegal rat-hole mining has continued in the state despite the 2014 ban, leading to numerous fatalities.
• Such mining practices are also prevalent along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh and Assam-Nagaland borders.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Rat-hole mining: A hazardous and unscientific method of coal extraction involving narrow tunnels for miners to crawl through.
• Mine Closure Policy: A framework outlining procedures for safely and environmentally responsibly closing down mining operations.
• National Green Tribunal (NGT): A statutory body established to handle cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.