Banned for years, a controversial mining practice may now be the only hope for the 41 workers trapped in the collapsed Silkyara-Barkot tunnel in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi. With the breaking of the auger joint of the drilling machine, the authorities have decided to move away from high-tech machines and cut through the debris using an outlawed method called "rat-hole mining".
What Is Rat-Hole Mining?
Rat-hole mining is a method of extracting coal from narrow, horizontal seams. The method was primarily used in Meghalaya. The term "rat hole" refers to narrow pits dug into the ground, typically just large enough for one person to descend and extract coal. Miners use ropes or bamboo ladders to reach the coal seams, manually extracting coal with tools like pickaxes, shovels, and baskets.
According to The Indian Express, rat-hole mining in Meghalaya is broadly of two types: side-cutting, where narrow tunnels are dug on hill slopes, and box-cutting, where a rectangular opening is made, and a vertical pit is dug. The practice poses significant safety and environmental hazards due to its unregulated nature, lack of safety measures, and causing land degradation, deforestation, and water pollution.
Why Was Rat-Hole Mining Banned?
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned rat-hole mining in 2014, citing cases of flooding during the rainy season leading to fatalities. However, the practice remained prevalent in many parts of Meghalaya. Several miner deaths have also occurred due to rat-hole mining, according to NDTV. The state government appealed against the order in the Supreme Court, citing economic factors and a lack of viable alternative livelihoods for the local population.
The rat-hole mining method, despite being banned for safety reasons, would be crucial in rescuing the trapped workers in Uttarakhand.
Uttarakhand Rescue Operation
In the Uttarakhand rescue operation, rat-hole mining became necessary after the failure of an American Auger drilling machine. Specialists from Delhi, skilled in the technique, were flown in for the task. These experts manually remove debris using hand-held tools inside the 800 mm pipe. The specialists are adept at cutting through metal barriers, showcasing their expertise in this unconventional method of mining.