Context: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had put a stop to rat hole mining in Meghalaya in 2014. This ban came following several reports of mining deaths inside coal mines due to caving in of the mines and often because the mines are suddenly flooded. The reason for flooding of mines is because the abandoned mines in the surrounding areas are flooded during the monsoons and since coal miners move horizontally inside the mines, sometimes they accidentally hit into an old flooded mine and the flood waters overwhelm them inside
About NGT:
- The National Green Tribunal has been established on 18.10.2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment and giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
- It is a specialized body equipped with the necessary expertise to handle environmental disputes involving multi-disciplinary issues.
- The Tribunal is mandated to make and endeavour for disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing of the same