Question

In which region of India is Rat Hole mining practiced?
A.Assam
B.Manipur
C.Imphal
D.Meghalaya

Answer 1

Hint: Rat hole mining is a form of mining where very small tunnels of 3-4 feet height are dug, and workers, usually children, enter to extract coal. Most of the minerals require government permission to be mined, however some tribal areas, individuals or communities own minerals, and such minerals are mined through Rat Hole mining.

Complete answer: Option A: In Assam coal mining is primarily taken care of by the government or public sector companies as there are restrictions on coal mining by private companies. However, private companies involved in iron and steel production, cement production, coal-based power generation are allowed to undertake confined coal mining for their own use.
Option B: Minerals found in Manipur are chromite, limestone and serpentinites. There are also deposits of idocrase, rock salt, etc.
Option C: Minerals in Imphal are mainly restricted to certain kinds of rocks like ophiolite suite, Oceanic Pelagic Sediment (OPS) and melanges in the Ophiolite Belt.
Option D: Rat Hole mining is majorly only practiced in Meghalaya. Such cases are not seen in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand because the coal seams are thick in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, although in Meghalaya coal seams are very thin. Normal mining is not an economic option therefore they prefer rat-hole mining. However, Rat hole mining has been banned since 2014 due to its hazardous and unscientific nature.

Hence, The correct answer is Option D.

Note: Rat hole mining is not only illegal, but also harmful for the environment. Water washing along the coal, which is rich in sulfur, gets degraded and harms aquatic life. This also causes severe shortage of clean drinking water and water used for irrigation.