GUWAHATI:

A panel constituted by the High Court of Meghalaya has flagged the State’s lethargy in adopting a policy to close all rat-hole mine openings and fence those that pose danger to humans and livestock.

In its 39th Interim Report submitted to the court last week, the one-man Justice (retired) B.P. Katakey Committee underlined the absence of a comprehensive action plan, the non-adoption of a mine closure policy, and serious gaps in the scrutiny of coal-based industries, specifically coke oven plants that thrive on coal.

The panel noted that the Meghalaya government heeded some of its recommendations, but has largely ignored the mine closure policy. The State had been advised years ago to seal abandoned and active but illegally operated mines that have been death traps for humans, specifically children, and livestock.

There are also instances of murderers using these pits to dump the bodies of their victims.

The Katakey panel says the Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited prepared detailed project reports (DPRs) for two pilot restoration projects — one at Sutnga in East Jaintia Hills (₹63 lakh) and the other at Arenggtim in South Garo Hills district (₹92.78 lakh).

Both proposals have been pending before the National Green Tribunal-constituted Oversight Committee, a hybrid Centre-State body comprising 12 members.

The Katakey panel observed that the DPRs focus on land restoration, but lack adequate protective measures, including fencing, until works are completed. It insisted that immediate steps are essential to prevent further loss of human and animal lives, noting that thousands of open coal mines exist across Meghalaya.

According to the Jaintia Coal Mines Owners and Dealers’ Association, there are about 60,000 mines spread across 360 villages in the East Jaintia Hills district alone. Most of these are abandoned but left uncovered.

The Katakey panel says most districts have not sent their concrete proposals on mine closure to the Mining and Geology Department. It noted that officials from South West Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills, and East Jaintia Hills districts assured submission of proposals within 10 days, while South Garo Hills sought 15 days.

The National Green Tribunal banned Meghalaya’s hazardous rat-hole coal mining in April 2014. The death of more than 45 miners in the narrow tunnels 150-300 metres underground over the years has indicated that mining has continued illegally in the State.

Such rat-hole mines, so called because their tunnels, branching out horizontally from a deep pit, are large enough for an adult to crawl through, are in operation along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh and Assam-Nagaland borders, too.

Published - August 16, 2026 07:56 pm IST