Rat hole mining is a method of extracting coal from narrow, horizontal seams, prevalent in Meghalaya, India
. The term "rat hole" refers to the narrow pits dug into the ground, typically just large enough for one person to descend and extract coal
. Once the pits are dug, miners descend using ropes or bamboo ladders to reach the coal seams. The coal is then manually extracted using primitive tools such as pickaxes, shovels, and baskets
. Rat hole mining is considered dangerous and poses significant safety and environmental hazards. The mines are typically unregulated, lacking safety measures such as proper ventilation, structural support, or safety gear for the workers
. The practice became illegal in the 1970s when India nationalized coal mines and gave state-run India a monopoly, but many small mine owners continued to employ short people or children in rat hole mining, and federal authorities didn't interfere
. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned rat-hole mining in 2014 for being unscientific, although the practice remains widespread
