Justice Katakey Panel Criticises Meghalaya For Not Drafting Rat-Hole Mine Closure Policy

Gist A Meghalaya High Court-appointed committee has strongly criticised the state government for its failure to formulate a comprehensive mine closure policy to seal hazardous, abandoned coal mines. The panel highlighted systemic lethargy, noting that thousands of dangerous open pits remain unfenced, posing severe risks to human and animal life while facilitating continued illegal extraction. For an aspirant, this development underscores the governance challenges in enforcing environmental jurisprudence and the persistent gap between judicial directives and state-level compliance in the mining sector. Background - Rat-hole mining is a primitive, hazardous, and unscientific method of coal extraction involving deep vertical shafts with narrow horizontal tunnels branching out, often just large enough for an adult or child to crawl through. - The National Green Tribunal NGT comprehensively banned this hazardous practice in Meghalaya in April 2014 due to extreme environmental degradation and the high mortality rate of miners. - Despite the ban, illegal extraction has continued, prompting judicial intervention. The Meghalaya High Court appointed a one-man committee led by Justice retired B.P. Katakey to monitor the state's compliance with safety and environmental…