Q. Rat hole mining, which was seen in the news, is prevalent in which state?
Answer:
Meghalaya
Notes: Rat hole mining, which is used in Uttarkashi tunnel rescue, is a method of extracting coal from narrow and horizontal seams. Meghalaya predominantly engages in rat hole mining because of the difficult terrain and nature of coal available in this region.
The term “rat hole” refers to the narrow pits dug into the ground, typically just large enough for one person to descend and extract coal. Rat hole mining poses significant safety and environmental hazards. Additionally, the mining process can cause land degradation, deforestation, and water pollution. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned the practice in 2014, as water flood into the mining areas resulting in death of many.