Shillong, May 11 : Speaking to reporters on Monday, Kyrmen Shylla said the political party that makes a firm commitment to resume coal mining and successfully delivers on that promise is likely to gain strong public support during the 2028 Assembly elections.
According to Shylla, the impact of the coal mining ban has been deeply felt across East Jaintia Hills, where thousands of families once depended directly and indirectly on the coal economy.
“We have waited patiently for many years. Now people want justice and a real solution,” Shylla said. He stated that frustration has continued to grow in the region after more than a decade of restrictions on coal mining activities.
“The party that clearly commits to lifting the ban and actually succeeds in restarting coal mining will make a major political impact in 2028,” he said.
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Coal mining in Meghalaya has remained a politically sensitive issue since the National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed restrictions on unscientific rat-hole mining over environmental and safety concerns.
While limited efforts have been made toward scientific mining and obtaining environmental clearances, large sections of the population in East Jaintia Hills continue to argue that the prolonged uncertainty has severely affected livelihoods and local economic activity.
Shylla acknowledged the development initiatives undertaken by the state government in recent years but stressed that infrastructure projects alone cannot replace the economic role coal mining once played in the region.
“People need sustainable livelihood opportunities. For many families in East Jaintia Hills, coal mining was their primary source of income,” he said.
