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17 August 2026

Meghalaya rat-hole mine closure policy

The topic involves a specific judicial committee report and NGT-mandated environmental restoration, which are directly relevant to GS3 environmental degradation and disaster management themes.

2 min read 2 questions 2 prelims

Notes

  • The Justice (retired) B.P. Katakey Committee, appointed by the Meghalaya High Court, has reported a lack of a comprehensive mine closure policy in Meghalaya.
  • The state has failed to seal abandoned and illegal rat-hole mines, which pose significant risks to human and animal life.
  • Rat-hole mining involves horizontal tunnels branching from deep pits, large enough for an adult to crawl through.
  • The National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned rat-hole coal mining in Meghalaya in April 2014 due to its hazardous nature.
  • The Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited has prepared Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for pilot restoration projects at Sutnga and Arenggtim.
  • Proposals for mine closure and land restoration are currently pending before the NGT-constituted Oversight Committee.
  • The Jaintia Coal Mines Owners and Dealers’ Association estimates approximately 60,000 mines exist across 360 villages in East Jaintia Hills district alone.
  • The Katakey Committee highlighted that existing DPRs focus on land restoration but lack sufficient immediate protective measures like fencing.
  • Illegal mining persists despite the NGT ban, with over 45 recorded miner deaths in underground tunnels over the years.

Questions

  1. Discuss the environmental and safety challenges posed by the persistence of illegal rat-hole mining in Meghalaya despite judicial interventions. 150 words
    Attempt this — 150 words in 8 min
    0 / 150 words 8:00
  2. The absence of a comprehensive mine closure policy in resource-rich states poses a threat to both ecological sustainability and public safety. In the context of the Meghalaya coal mining crisis, evaluate the role of judicial oversight committees in enforcing environmental compliance and state accountability. 250 words
    Attempt this — 250 words in 11 min
    0 / 250 words 11:00

Prelims

  1. Which of the following best describes the 'rat-hole' mining technique as practiced in Meghalaya?

  2. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed a ban on rat-hole coal mining in Meghalaya in which year?

Syllabus

Topics

Sources

250words.in · https://250words.in/daily/2026-08-17/meghalaya-rat-hole-mine-closure-policy