In which one of the following geographical regions of India was 'Rat-Hole Mining' prevalent until it was declared illegal by the National Green Tribunal?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 1 i.e. North-east.
Rat-hole mining was prevalent in the northeastern state of Meghalaya, especially in the Jaintia Hills region. This technique involved digging narrow, horizontal tunnels into the ground to extract coal manually. It was widely practised due to the ease of access to coal and low operational costs. However, it posed severe environmental and safety risks, including groundwater pollution and frequent accidents. In 2014, the National Green Tribunal declared rat-hole mining illegal due to its unscientific methods and hazardous working conditions.