Illegal Mining in Assam’s Dima Hasao Costing Lives
State Excuses Persist as Laws are Ignored and Dangers Mount
January 8, 2025
Photo used for representational purposes only.
Three people have been confirmed dead, and one body had been recovered as of Jan. 8, two days after at least nine miners became trapped in a flooded “rat hole” coal mine in Assam’s Dima Hasao district. The incident resembles several similar accidents over recent years, despite numerous protests by local residents. The issue persists.
The mine in the Umrangso area is also suspected to be illegal, and authorities have reportedly initiated investigations, including making arrests. However, taking action only after such accidents occur does not equate to the government fulfilling its responsibilities.
Officials from Assam’s Ministries of Industries and Commerce and Environment and Forests need to search “illegal mining Dima Hasao” online to see the number of results that appear. Can they explain why illegal mining continues to be rampant?
Most recently, in October 2023, a coalition of tribal organisations in Dima Hasao strongly opposed proposed mining projects in the Umrangso area, arguing that they threaten the livelihoods and cultural heritage of the indigenous people.
Rat-hole mining, a practice involving narrow tunnels that miners crawl through to extract coal, was banned in India in 2014 due to its hazardous nature and detrimental effects on both workers and the environment.
This form of mining is inherently dangerous because the tunnels, often dug without proper structural support, are prone to collapsing. These collapses can trap miners, leading to fatalities or severe injuries. The lack of safety equipment and training makes it riskier, leaving workers highly vulnerable. Further, the miners, many of whom are children or from marginalised communities, work in inhumane conditions, breathing in coal dust that can lead to respiratory illnesses like pneumoconiosis.
The environmental impact of rat-hole mining is equally damaging.
The unregulated extraction process causes significant deforestation, leading to habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity. It also contaminates water sources. Waste from the mines, including coal slurry and acidic water, is often dumped into nearby rivers and streams, making the water unfit for consumption and harming aquatic life. This also contaminates agricultural lands, reducing their fertility and affecting the livelihoods of local farmers.
Moreover, rat-hole mining contributes to illegal and unregulated economic activities. Since these operations are largely outside governmental oversight, they deprive the state of revenue while promoting unsafe working conditions.
The involvement of powerful local entities in these operations often makes enforcement of the ban challenging, allowing the practice to persist despite its prohibition and perpetuating a cycle of exploitation, poverty and environmental degradation in mining areas. However, this cannot serve as an excuse for the government to shirk its responsibilities.
The government is capable of taking action to address this issue effectively. It must strengthen enforcement mechanisms by deploying dedicated and well-equipped task forces to monitor and crack down on illegal mining activities. These units should be adequately staffed with legal authority to investigate, apprehend and prosecute offenders.
The nexus driving rat-hole mining must be dismantled to prevent further loss of lives and environmental destruction.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was quoted in media saying: “Dima Hasao is an autonomous council and Assam govt. has limitations in its administration. Under what circumstances the mining permission was given we do not know yet. We have asked police to investigate.”
While the Dima Hasao Autonomous Council does have administrative authority over certain areas, including land use and local governance, this autonomy does not absolve the state government of its responsibilities. Issues like illegal mining, which involve violations of national laws, environmental regulations and labour rights, fall within the purview of state and central governments.
The state government retains the authority to intervene in cases of unlawful activities, particularly when they have larger legal, environmental or human rights implications. It has the jurisdiction to enforce bans on illegal mining and ensure compliance with national laws. Moreover, the state government can collaborate with the autonomous council to address governance gaps, improve enforcement mechanisms and protect the region’s resources and people.
