Illegal coal mines claim lives if thirteen miners
The latest news of flooding in illegal coal mines in Meghalaya that have possibly taken the lives of thirteen labourers has once again bought the issue of the unsafe rat-hole coal mining that has actually been banned the National Green Tribunal buts is still practised to the national forefront.
Illegal coal mines claim lives if thirteen miners
According to latest reports, at the least thirteen labourers working as miners are feared to have died after they had been trapped the flooding in one of the illegal coal mines that they were working in. These illegal coal mines that claimed the lives of these miners are situated in East Jaintia hills of Meghalaya.
According to Sylvester Nongtngr, the superintendent of police of the East Jaintia district, the illegal coal mines were located near the Lytein river. The mine in question that claimed the lives of thirteen labourers filled with water while they were digging inside resulting in a collapse of the mine. This trapped the thirteen miners who are now feared dead.
The unsafe method of rat-hole coal mining is illegal after the National Green Tribunal placed a ban on it. However, it’s operation is still being conducted despite the illegal status. This not only harms the environment and makes the extraction very ineffective but also endangers the life of the labourers who work in mines that use this method. They are at a higher risk than those miners using safer methods and since these mines are illegal, regulations considering their other aspects of security are blatantly ignored as well. It is almost like working with a knowledge that you can die anytime.
It is not like no one is raising their voices against the illegal coal mines. North Eastern India is, after all, a region of the country that produces educated people who are not only aware of their rights but also do not shy away from demanding them. Agnes Kharsiing is one such anti-mining activist who was recently attacked in the same district as the one where the unfortunate incident took place alleged coal miners. The lack of authoritative action in the entire scenario does raise some serious questions.
Today, it is really sad to hear about those thirteen miners, but the issue does not end at them or with them. It is about all of those forced to work under such dangerous circumstances and about those who conduct this illegal activity.
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