Shillong: The National People’s Party is betting on scientific mining to swing the Shillong Lok Sabha seat. Ten years have passed since the National Green Tribunal brought the East Jaintia Hills economy to its knees. Local MLA Santa Mary Shylla campaigned at Sutnga for candidate Dr. DRL Nonglait, telling voters to stay patient as the government works through legal barriers.
Mining remains stagnant. The industry was the regional backbone until 2014, but strict environmental rules and technical standards have kept operations offline. Shylla insisted that open-cast mining will not work here. She told the crowd that the resumption of mining is a gradual process tied to strict regulatory norms.
Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar is currently leading the revival efforts. Officials admit the legal framework makes this a slow grind. Residents have waited a decade for a return to work. Shylla argued that the next Member of Parliament must carry these grievances to New Delhi to force federal action tailored to local needs.
The campaign also pivoted toward the Indo-Bangladesh border. Shylla pointed to villages left behind by years of developmental neglect. She claimed these isolated areas need better representation to survive the current policy gap.
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