How is illegal rat-hole coal mining in Meghalaya still on despite NGT ban? Asks Supreme Court; bans coal transport till 19 Feb
6 years ago

How is illegal rat-hole coal mining in Meghalaya still on despite NGT ban? Asks Supreme Court; bans coal transport till 19 Feb

Firstpost  

The Supreme Court has ordered the Meghalaya government to file a detailed affidavit on whether inspections were being carried out at illegal rat-hole mines in the state. The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned how illegal rat-hole coal mining was still rampant in Meghalaya despite the ban on the practice impost by the National Green Tribunal. The Meghalaya government has been seeking more time to enforce the NGT ban on coal mining in the state, but the Supreme Court has rejected the requests, referring to the tragedy of the 15 miners who have been trapped in a mine in the state for over a month. During the hearing, the Supreme Court referred to a report by a TV news channel on mining still being on at rat-hole coal mines in Meghalaya.

Supreme Court Court Meghalaya Mining Coal Illegal Mining State Supreme Miners Ngt Illegal Coal Mining Till  ngt  supreme  state  transport  court  till  mining  rathole  illegal  trapped  feb  coal  meghalaya  miners

History of this topic

​Burrow tragedy: on the coal mining tragedy in Assam’s Dima Hasao
2 hours, 58 minutes ago

​Burrow tragedy: on the coal mining tragedy in Assam’s Dima Hasao

The Hindu  

With four deaths so far, the coal mining tragedy in Assam’s Dima Hasao district has revived a long-standing debate on the hazardous nature of rat-hole coal mining in India. As opposed to modern coal mining, which is mechanised, the ‘rat-hole’ points to the crude and antiquated technique of employing people, and even children, to burrow into the ground to scoop …

Assam mine tragedy: Six-year-old query from Supreme Court on rat-hole mines remains unanswered
2 days, 10 hours ago

Assam mine tragedy: Six-year-old query from Supreme Court on rat-hole mines remains unanswered

The Hindu  

An oral question from the Supreme Court to the Union government continues to remain unanswered even as rescue workers recover bodies of workers who died trapped in a flooded rat-hole coal mine at Dima Hasao district in Assam. On January 11, 2019, nearly six years ago, the top court had asked whether rat-hole mines could possibly operate in the northeast …

Assam mining tragedy: Rescue operations enter day 7
3 days, 16 hours ago

Assam mining tragedy: Rescue operations enter day 7

Deccan Chronicle  

The joint search and rescue operations are underway at the rat-hole coal mine at 3 Kilo Umrangso area in Assam's Dima Hasao to locate 5 other trapped workers.The rescue teams of the Indian army, Indian Navy, NDRF and other agencies have retrieved four bodies from the flooded rat-hole mine. The rescue operations are still underway, with five miners still missing.A …

9 trapped in flooded rat-hole mine in Assam, rescue operation launched
1 week, 2 days ago

9 trapped in flooded rat-hole mine in Assam, rescue operation launched

India Today  

In a grim development from Assam's Dima Hasao district, nine workers are trapped inside a 'rat hole' coal mine after water gushed into the 300-foot-deep quarry. After the incident, specialised teams from the Indian Army, State Disaster Response Force and the National Disaster Response Force launched a joint operation to rescue the workers. In a similar incident in December 2018, …

India’s illegal coal mining problem | Explained
5 months, 3 weeks ago

India’s illegal coal mining problem | Explained

The Hindu  

The story so far: On July 13, three workers died of asphyxiation inside an illegal coal mine in Gujarat’s Surendranagar district. Illegal coal mining also allegedly receives tacit support from political leaders in areas where it is prevalent, making it difficult to curb. In 2023, the Assam-based political party Assam Jatiya Parishad submitted a petition each to the President, Vice-President, …

None of 26,000 rat-hole mines closed yet, Meghalaya HC told
8 months ago

None of 26,000 rat-hole mines closed yet, Meghalaya HC told

Hindustan Times  

None of the 26,000 abandoned rat-hole mines in East Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya has so far been closed despite an order, posing a threat of loss of life to humans as well as livestock, according to an interim report of a committee formed to monitor the mining and transportation of coal in the north-eastern state. The National Green Tribunal …

Coal generates revenue for Meghalaya, but at what cost
11 months, 2 weeks ago

Coal generates revenue for Meghalaya, but at what cost

Hindustan Times  

Meghalaya is predominantly rich in tertiary coal deposits belonging to the Eocene age. Precious lives of undocumented labourers, intricate cave systems, alluring water bodies, and exotic flora and fauna continue to be adversely affected by the rampant and illegal coal mining that is still underway, despite a ban by the National Green Tribunal close to a decade ago, prohibiting mining …

What are ‘rat miners’? Controversial specialists brought in for final stretch of India tunnel rescue
1 year, 1 month ago

What are ‘rat miners’? Controversial specialists brought in for final stretch of India tunnel rescue

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A mining technique that has …

How the Controversial Rat-hole Mining Helped in Saving Trapped Workers in Uttarkashi Tunnel
1 year, 1 month ago

How the Controversial Rat-hole Mining Helped in Saving Trapped Workers in Uttarkashi Tunnel

News 18  

After all the efforts to rescue 41 workers trapped inside the collapsed Silkyara tunnel failed to make headway, a banned mining practice came to the aid of the rescuers. The Rat-hole mining technique, which began on Monday, helped reduce the distance between the trapped workers and the rescuers as a team of “rat-hole miners” drilled through tonnes of concrete and …

State Should Have Provided Alternate Sources Of Livelihood To Those Affected By Cessation Of Coal Mining Operations: Meghalaya High Court
1 year, 6 months ago

State Should Have Provided Alternate Sources Of Livelihood To Those Affected By Cessation Of Coal Mining Operations: Meghalaya High Court

Live Law  

The remarks were made after State submitted that due to sudden stoppage of mining activities, people were forced to continue with it despite the prohibition. Finding no force in this argument, the bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee, Justices H. S. Thangkhiew and W Diengdoh remarked, The Meghalaya High Court on Thursday emphasized the need for the State government to …

Illegal Coal Mining: Meghalaya High Court Mulls CBI Probe, Asks State To Show Cause Why Police Administration Should Be Trusted
1 year, 6 months ago

Illegal Coal Mining: Meghalaya High Court Mulls CBI Probe, Asks State To Show Cause Why Police Administration Should Be Trusted

Live Law  

Contemplating demands for CBI probe into the issue of illegal coal mining in Meghalaya, the High Court on Tuesday directed the State government to show cause why it should still have any confidence in the police or the administrative machinery. Today, the petitioner presented compelling video showcasing illicit coal-mining activities and the transport of illegally-mined coal across various districts. Unconvinced, …

Nine years after ban, coal mining to resume in Meghalaya, says CM Sangma
1 year, 8 months ago

Nine years after ban, coal mining to resume in Meghalaya, says CM Sangma

The Hindu  

Coal mining in Meghalaya, banned since April 2014, is likely to be resumed legally by July. At an election rally on May 1, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said the Centre had approved mining leases for four persons, thus paving the way for scientific mining in the State. An April 24 letter from the Ministry of Coal to the …

High Court pulls up Meghalaya govt. for illegal coal mining
1 year, 9 months ago

High Court pulls up Meghalaya govt. for illegal coal mining

The Hindu  

GUWAHATI The High Court of Meghalaya has declined to exonerate the Meghalaya government from complicity in the export of illegally-mined coal to Bangladesh. Hearing a public interest litigation regarding the export of coal through western Meghalaya’s Gasuapara land custom station on Tuesday, the court took note of the State government’s submission that a system has been put in place for …

Court scales down ‘grandiose’ Meghalaya plan to check coal mining
1 year, 10 months ago

Court scales down ‘grandiose’ Meghalaya plan to check coal mining

The Hindu  

The High Court of Meghalaya has scaled down a “grandiose” plan of the State government to spend at least ₹374 crore on 160 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force to check the illegal mining and transportation of coal. Thangkhiew, and Justice W. Diengdoh observed the government’s plan to deploy 160 companies of CRPF was “grandiose”. “At any rate, even …

Meghalaya High Court Asks State To Identify 'Kingpins' Of Illegal Coal Mining, Take Appropriate Legal Action
1 year, 10 months ago

Meghalaya High Court Asks State To Identify 'Kingpins' Of Illegal Coal Mining, Take Appropriate Legal Action

Live Law  

The Meghalaya High Court on Monday expressed hope that the State will take effective steps to identify kingpins of illegal coal mining and take appropriate action in the matter. A full bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justices H. S. Thangkhiew & W. Diengdoh was hearing a Public Interest Litigation on the menace of Illegal Coal Mining in the …

BJP leaders behind illegal coal mining in Assam: Assam Jatiya Parishad
1 year, 10 months ago

BJP leaders behind illegal coal mining in Assam: Assam Jatiya Parishad

The Hindu  

Some Bharatiya Janata Party leaders are behind illegal coal mining in Assam, a State-based political party has alleged in a set of memorandums on February 16. AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi and general secretary Jagadish Bhuyan said illegal rat-hole coal mining has continued in Assam besides Meghalaya and other north-eastern States with the alleged patronage of the BJP leaders and in …

CRPF to have aggressive role to control, monitor illegal coal mining in Meghalaya: HC
1 year, 11 months ago

CRPF to have aggressive role to control, monitor illegal coal mining in Meghalaya: HC

The Hindu  

The Meghalaya High Court said the CRPF can have a more aggressive role to control and monitor the illegal mining and transportation of coal in the hill State. The High Court also directed the Meghalaya Government to indicate the number of central armed police force personnel it requires to effectively monitor and check illegal mining and transportation of coal in …

Court-appointed panel refutes Meghalaya Government’s coal estimate
1 year, 11 months ago

Court-appointed panel refutes Meghalaya Government’s coal estimate

The Hindu  

GUWAHATI A court-appointed committee has refuted the Meghalaya Government’s estimate of coal extracted before the National Green Tribunal banned the hazardous rat-hole mining in April 2014. Katakey, a retired judge of the Gauhati High Court, a year ago to ascertain whether the State government cracked down on illegal coal mining as directed by the Supreme Court and the NGT. Former …

The Minor Coal Miners of Meghalaya
2 years ago

The Minor Coal Miners of Meghalaya

News 18  

When the sun sets early in Meghalaya’s Jaintia hills, the scenic beauty resembles a Monet painting. In this picturesque surreal beauty lay the dark, ugly truth of minor coal miners and the harsh reality of human trafficking. In the biting cold of Meghalaya where the hilly roads are covered in rain, most part of the year, one can find the …

Meghalaya High Court takes tough stand on illegal coal
2 years, 2 months ago

Meghalaya High Court takes tough stand on illegal coal

The Hindu  

The High Court of Meghalaya has directed the State government to ensure “not an ounce of illegally-mined coal” is allowed to be transported in trucks or other vehicles. The court told Meghalaya’s Chief Secretary and Director-General of Police that they would be accountable if any form of illegally-mined coal is discovered being transported in the State. “The DGP will instruct …

Rat-Hole Coal Mining: Meghalaya High Court Directs State To Implement SC & NGT Directions
2 years, 7 months ago

Rat-Hole Coal Mining: Meghalaya High Court Directs State To Implement SC & NGT Directions

Live Law  

The Meghalaya High Court has recently directed the State Government to comply with all the directions issued by the Apex Court and the National Green Tribunal with respect to rat-hole mining, within four weeks. Thangkhiew and Justice W. Diengdoh observed, "While it is a matter of regret that orders passed by the Supreme Court and by the NGT continue to …

Rescue operation for trapped miners in Meghalaya called off due to rain
3 years, 6 months ago

Rescue operation for trapped miners in Meghalaya called off due to rain

India TV News  

Thirty-nine days after five miners were trapped in a flooded coal mine in Meghalayas East Jaintia Hills district, the state government has called off the rescue operation due to incessant rainfall, an official said on Thursday. After three bodies could be retrieved from inside the mine since mid-June, the district administration was forced to take the decision given the increasing …

'Or They'll Go Scot Free': Meghalaya Cong Demands Independent Inquiry into Allege Illegal Coal Trade
3 years, 6 months ago

'Or They'll Go Scot Free': Meghalaya Cong Demands Independent Inquiry into Allege Illegal Coal Trade

News 18  

The opposition Congress has reiterated its demand for an independent inquiry into the alleged illegal coal mining and its transportation in Meghalaya. “Unless there is an independent inquiry by an outside agency which is not under the control of the state government this truth cannot be uncovered and the perpetrators brought to book, they will all go scot free…it will …

Rescuers Unable to Retrieve Object Suspected to be Body of Miner from Meghalaya Coal Pit
3 years, 6 months ago

Rescuers Unable to Retrieve Object Suspected to be Body of Miner from Meghalaya Coal Pit

News 18  

Rescuers on Thursday were unable to retrieve a "suspicious object", likely to be the body of a miner, due to the accumulation of debris at the bottom of the flooded 152-metre-deep coal pit in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district where five people have been trapped since May 30, an official said. As the dewatering process was on using 10 high-powered …

First Body Retrieved from Flooded Meghalaya Coal Mine
3 years, 6 months ago

First Body Retrieved from Flooded Meghalaya Coal Mine

News 18  

A body was retrieved on Wednesday afternoon from the flooded coal pit in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district where five miners were trapped since May 30, an official said. The operation to retrieve the second “suspicious object” was called off as the visibility in the water was affected during the retrieval of the first body, the official said. The ROV …

5 Trapped for 14 Days in Meghalaya Mine, Navy Joins Rescue Efforts
3 years, 7 months ago

5 Trapped for 14 Days in Meghalaya Mine, Navy Joins Rescue Efforts

News 18  

The Indian Navy, which was able to pull out three bodies from a flooded mine in Meghalaya using a sophisticated machine in 2019, on Sunday joined operations to rescue five miners trapped for 14 days in another such illegal coal mine in the state, an official said. The water level in the mine at Umpleng in East Jaintia Hills district, …

Navy to Join in Meghalaya Mine Rescue Efforts; 5 Trapped for 13 Days
3 years, 7 months ago

Navy to Join in Meghalaya Mine Rescue Efforts; 5 Trapped for 13 Days

News 18  

The Indian Navy, which was able to pull out three bodies from a flooded mine in Meghalaya using a sophisticated machine in 2019, will be joining operations to rescue five miners trapped for 13 days in another such illegal coal mine in the state, an official said on Saturday. The water level in the mine at Umpleng in East Jaintia …

No Sign of Trapped Miners Even After 10 Days, Meghalaya CM Says Rescue Ops Still On
3 years, 7 months ago

No Sign of Trapped Miners Even After 10 Days, Meghalaya CM Says Rescue Ops Still On

News 18  

The rescue operations at Krem Ule in East Jaintia Hills district’s Umpleng suffered a setback following the rise in water level, said Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday, adding that the rescue efforts are still on to save the five miners trapped deep inside an illegal coal mine. Stating that the authorities concerned are trying their best to …

4 Days On, No Headway in Search for Trapped Miners in Meghalaya; NDRF Joins Efforts
3 years, 7 months ago

4 Days On, No Headway in Search for Trapped Miners in Meghalaya; NDRF Joins Efforts

News 18  

The National Disaster Response Force on Thursday joined the rescue efforts at the illegal coal mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district where five miners are trapped. The miners are trapped for the last four days inside the illegal coal mine that was flooded after a dynamite explosion. At least five miners have been identified by the district administration — …

Miners Still Trapped in Meghalaya Coal Mine, Rain Hampers Rescue Efforts
3 years, 7 months ago

Miners Still Trapped in Meghalaya Coal Mine, Rain Hampers Rescue Efforts

News 18  

Heavy rainfall on Tuesday is hampering operations to rescue at least five miners trapped for two days deep inside an illegal rat-hole coal pit in Meghalayas East Jaintia Hills district, officials said. The district administration has identified five miners four from Assam and one from Tripura who were trapped at the coal pit in the remote Umpleng area of Sutnga …

Meghalaya: 5 labourers trapped following flooding at coal mine in East Jaintia Hills
3 years, 7 months ago

Meghalaya: 5 labourers trapped following flooding at coal mine in East Jaintia Hills

India TV News  

Four labourers from Assam and one from Tripura were feared trapped after a dynamite blast led to the flooding of a coal mine in East Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya, a senior police officer said. The delay in identification of the probable site was due to inclement weather, poor night light condition, and non-availability of any eye-witness account," the East …

Five Labourers Feared Trapped After Explosion in Illegal Coal Mine in Meghalaya, FIR Registered
3 years, 7 months ago

Five Labourers Feared Trapped After Explosion in Illegal Coal Mine in Meghalaya, FIR Registered

News 18  

A case was on Monday registered in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills police station on the basis of some eye-witnesses against an incident of illegal rat-hole coal mining which left five labourers feared trapped inside the mine after it collapsed due to a “sudden explosion of dynamite”. The district police were able to identify the probable location of the incident at …

Meghalaya: Six dead in illegal coal mine disaster
3 years, 11 months ago

Meghalaya: Six dead in illegal coal mine disaster

India TV News  

A mechanical structure collapsed at an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district, killing six miners, an official said on Friday. While the workers were digging a hole in the mine the mechanical structure got dismantled following which they fell into a pit and died," he said. At least 15 labourers had got trapped after water from Lytein …

6 miners killed at abandoned coal mine in Meghalaya after falling into 150ft deep pit
3 years, 11 months ago

6 miners killed at abandoned coal mine in Meghalaya after falling into 150ft deep pit

India Today  

At least six labourers were killed in an accident inside an abandoned coal mine in Meghalaya. One of the biggest tragedy in the state in recent times occurred on December 13, 2018 when 15 miners were trapped inside an illegal coal mine in East Jaintia Hills. The search and rescue operation was abandoned after 60 days of searching the 15 …

Meghalaya govt encouraging illegal coal mining, says NGO
4 years, 2 months ago

Meghalaya govt encouraging illegal coal mining, says NGO

The Hindu  

GUWAHATI A Meghalaya-based rights group has accused the alliance government in the State of encouraging illegal coal mining in contempt of a Supreme Court order. The State government later claimed tonnes of already extracted coal lying around various mining sites needed to be transported to prevent the local environment from being polluted. Coal miners had in December 2018 told the …

Mapping The Human Rights And Environmental Perils Of Illegal Coal Mining In Meghalaya: An Analysis
4 years, 3 months ago

Mapping The Human Rights And Environmental Perils Of Illegal Coal Mining In Meghalaya: An Analysis

Live Law  

The problem of mining in the North-Eastern region of the country has been incessantly perturbing the ecology over a while now. This reckless approach by the coal mining companies landed them in a quagmire when 15 of such miners got trapped Lumthari village of East Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya which raised ethical as well as health concerns of the …

COVID-19 Lockdown: Coal mine labourers stranded as owners protest in Meghalaya; some walk back home to Assam
4 years, 7 months ago

COVID-19 Lockdown: Coal mine labourers stranded as owners protest in Meghalaya; some walk back home to Assam

Firstpost  

Since 3 May, rules have been considerably relaxed for commercial transportation even though coal was listed under ‘essential goods’ from the very beginning. However, local organisations, including the Jaintia Coal Mine Owners and Dealers’ Association and student bodies like the Hynniewtrep National Youth Front and the Khasi Students’ Union, have protested the transport of coal from Assam to cement plants …

Supreme Court slaps Rs 100 crore fine on Meghalaya government
5 years, 6 months ago

Supreme Court slaps Rs 100 crore fine on Meghalaya government

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that state was under constitutional obligation to provide clean air and water to the people and should act as a facilitator and not as obstructionist in matters pertaining to environment, as it slapped Rs 100 crore fine on Meghalaya to be deposited with the Central Pollution Control Board for restoration of environment. …

Four killed following mudslides at illegal coal mine in Nagaland
5 years, 10 months ago

Four killed following mudslides at illegal coal mine in Nagaland

India TV News  

Four miners were killed following mudslides at an illegal coal mine at Yonglok village in Longleng district of Nagaland, police said Monday. They reportedly got stuck inside the open-cast mine on the Assam-Nagaland border following mudslides, police said. The mine was recently shut down following a state government order banning illegal coal mining and a provisional ban on licensed mining …

Meghalaya Rat-Hole Miners: Moved By Tearful Appeal, SC Asks Centre To Airlift Pumps As Assured [Read Order]
5 years, 10 months ago

Meghalaya Rat-Hole Miners: Moved By Tearful Appeal, SC Asks Centre To Airlift Pumps As Assured [Read Order]

Live Law  

After a tearful appeal and with the passing of almost two and a half months since 15 labourers were trapped in a flooded illegal rat-hole mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills District, the Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to honour its undertaking given in court to the effect that it will airlift 100-horsepower capacity pumps to the nearest …

Meghalaya Miners: 2 Months Later, Centre To Finally Airlift 100HP Pumps & Call In Army, SC Told [Read Order]
5 years, 11 months ago

Meghalaya Miners: 2 Months Later, Centre To Finally Airlift 100HP Pumps & Call In Army, SC Told [Read Order]

Live Law  

Almost two months after 15 poor labourers got trapped in a flooded illegal rat-hole mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia hills district, the Centre on Friday accepted the suggestion of airlifting 100 HP capacity pumps to the nearest point of the site and install them "at the earliest" with the help of the Army authorities while the Supreme Court called for …

'Will not abandon' rescue of Meghalaya miners: Centre, Meghalaya govt assure SC day after navy suspends ops
5 years, 11 months ago

'Will not abandon' rescue of Meghalaya miners: Centre, Meghalaya govt assure SC day after navy suspends ops

Firstpost  

The Centre and the Meghalaya government told the Supreme Court that operations to rescue the 15 miners trapped in a rat-hole mine in the East Jaintia Hills district of the state will not be abandoned. The Centre and the Meghalaya government told the Supreme Court that operations to rescue the miners trapped in a rat-hole mine in the East Jaintia …

Meghalaya mining crisis: illegal, inhuman, anti-ecology
5 years, 11 months ago

Meghalaya mining crisis: illegal, inhuman, anti-ecology

Deccan Chronicle  

First the facts of the matter: Disaster struck on December 13 last at a rat-hole coal mine in Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya, in which at least 13 miners got trapped due to a deluge of water rushing into the mine, following the break-down of the chamber due to unscientific illegal mining going on there. In 2014, the National Green Tribunal …

Meghalaya govt orders implementation of Supreme Court order banning coal transportation with immediate effect
5 years, 11 months ago

Meghalaya govt orders implementation of Supreme Court order banning coal transportation with immediate effect

India TV News  

The Meghalaya government Tuesday ordered implementation of the Supreme Court order banning transportation of coal with immediate effect, officials said. The apex court banned transportation of coal in the state forthwith until the next hearing on February 19, refusing a plea by the miners to send extracted coal left to transport since the 2014 National Green Tribunal ban on mining. …

Meghalaya govt-coal mafia nexus aids illegal mining, decimates state's ecology, says activists' report submitted to Supreme Court
6 years ago

Meghalaya govt-coal mafia nexus aids illegal mining, decimates state's ecology, says activists' report submitted to Supreme Court

Firstpost  

Illegal coal mining in Meghalaya has dispossessed 76 percent of the local tribal population of their land, resulting in large-scale migration of the tribal poor to the urban centres of Shillong and Tura, the report says, adding that this was the major reason for inequality of wealth in the state. The report lists out a number of recommendations to curb …

One month on, no ray of hope for 15 trapped Meghalaya miners, chances of their rescue continue to remain bleak
6 years ago

One month on, no ray of hope for 15 trapped Meghalaya miners, chances of their rescue continue to remain bleak

India TV News  

It's been one month after 15 miners have been trapped in an illegal rat-hole coal mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district. Till date, the dewatering of the 370-foot-deep mine where the miners are trapped has proved futile as over 1 crore litres of water has been pumped out of the main shaft in the past one month, but there …

Month after Meghalaya mine tragedy, NGT committee asks state police to investigate 1,200 cases of illegal mining
6 years ago

Month after Meghalaya mine tragedy, NGT committee asks state police to investigate 1,200 cases of illegal mining

Firstpost  

The Meghalaya police have been told by the NGT that their probe should reach a logical conclusion after taking into account all 1200 cases of illegal rat-hole mining in East Garo Hills, South-West Khasi Hills and West and East Jaintia Hills districts. An official said the police have been told that their probe should reach a logical conclusion after taking …

Meghalaya’s rat hole traps
6 years ago

Meghalaya’s rat hole traps

The Hindu  

It was the compensation cheque, for ₹1 lakh, that convinced Solibar Rahman, 64, that he would never see his 20-year-old son, Monirul Islam, ever again. Monirul is one of the 15 miners trapped in a coal mine barely 2 ft wide — hence called a ‘rat hole’ — in Meghalaya since December 13. Says Daly, “Today not even a tadpole …

Meghalaya coal mine tragedy: Lack of employment, higher wages force Assam youths into unlawful mining jobs
6 years ago

Meghalaya coal mine tragedy: Lack of employment, higher wages force Assam youths into unlawful mining jobs

Firstpost  

A prime witness in the case, Sayeb, who managed to haul himself up with the help of an iron chain hanging inside, thanks God for choosing to save him from the 320-feet water-filled rathole mine. Sayeb, after all, is the lone survivor among the 15 miners trapped in Ksan coal mine of Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills since 13 December, even …

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