Shillong, The Meghalaya High Court on Monday expressed deep concern over what it described as the “deplorable” failure of authorities to control rampant illegal rat-hole coal mining in the East Jaintia hill district that claimed 27 lives, officials said.
The Meghalaya High Court termed the failure to curb illegal rat-hole digging as ‘deplorable’The High Court bench of Justices HS Thankhiu and W Diengdoh also warned that accountability would be fixed and an independent or central agency inquiry could be ordered if necessary.
The observations came after East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner Manish Kumar and Superintendent of Police Vikas Kumar attended on February 5 regarding an explosion at an illegal coal mine in Thangsku area of Minesongat village, 130 km east of here.
A status report submitted by the district administration cited manpower shortage, but the court was informed that a criminal case has been registered and two persons have been arrested in connection with the incident.
The bench, however, said the report raised serious concerns and reflected lapses in implementation.
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While refraining from giving detailed directions at this stage, the court directed the authorities to submit a comprehensive report within 10 days detailing the steps taken to identify and close illegal mining sites across the district, seize mining equipment and arrest those involved.
The court also directed that the report should include the status of investigation of an earlier incident in the same area on January 14, in which a laborer from Assam was killed.
Taking note of the thirty-sixth interim report submitted by the court-appointed committee headed by retired Justice BP Katake, the bench said the findings were alarming.
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The report, based on a site visit, documented widespread illegal mining activities not only in Thangsko but also in neighboring areas such as Mopala and Sakhine villages, alleging violation of court orders and the rule of law.
“The report is disturbing and reflects negligence on the part of the authorities concerned,” the court observed, adding that accountability would be fixed and further orders for a proper inquiry or institution of inquiry, including an independent or central body, may be ordered if necessary.
On land, illegal rat-hole coal mining continues to claim lives in Meghalaya despite a blanket ban imposed by the National Green Tribunal in 2014, which declared the practice unsafe, unscientific and environmentally destructive.
Rat-hole mining involves digging narrow vertical holes, often extending hundreds of feet underground, with little or no safety measures for workers.
Since 2018, East Jaintia Hills has witnessed several fatal accidents linked to illegal mining.
In December 2018, 15 miners were trapped and later died after water flooded an illegal rat-hole mine in the village of Kasan, an incident that drew national attention and prompted a judicial investigation.
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In the following years, a number of explosions, cave-ins and floods have been reported, often involving migrant workers working in remote and inaccessible areas.
Despite repeated court orders and observations, the loss of life continues.
In January this year alone, two separate blasts were reported in the Thangsku area, one of which killed a laborer from Assam on January 14.
Days later, on February 5, a massive explosion ignited a fire inside the interconnected underground pit, resulting in one of the deadliest mining accidents in recent years.
In response to continued violations of the NGT ban, the High Court constituted a judicial monitoring system and later appointed Justice Kata to oversee compliance with the directions of courts and tribunals.
Its interim reports over the years have consistently identified the continuation of illegal mining, inadequate enforcement and alleged collusion at various levels.
The latest explosion has once again brought attention back to the efficacy of land application.
Rescue operations involving teams from the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force continued in difficult terrain, with authorities admitting that underground conditions and connecting potholes are major challenges.
The court directed a copy of the Cuttack Committee’s interim report to the Advocate General.
The court exempted the District Commissioner from personal appearance and directed the Superintendent of Police to appear on the next date of hearing on February 19.
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