On December 17, 2025, Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Wanweiroy Kharlukhi raised urgent concerns about the National Green Tribunal's coal mining ban in Meghalaya. Speaking during Zero Hour, the National People's Party leader said the 2014 ban has severely hurt thousands of families who depend on coal for their livelihood. "Coal caters to the needs of thousands of families in the State. Right to earn is the fundamental right of every citizen, and I feel my people have been deprived of that right," Dr. Kharlukhi said. He also pointed out that autonomous district councils in Meghalaya suffered as coal was their main revenue source. "The staff of the district council, for months together, have had to go without pay," he explained, supporting demands to amend the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to strengthen these councils. Dr. Kharlukhi noted that before the ban, the government collected over ₹600 crore in cess tax on coal, funding education. After the ban, this revenue dropped to zero, forcing teachers to protest for unpaid salaries for years. While appreciating the government's approval to restart mining scientifically, the MP issued a strong warning. "The dangerous part is that recently, drug smuggling seems to be on the rise in my State, with certain arrests made by law agencies, especially in the coal block areas," he said. He urged urgent action to stop Meghalaya from becoming a regional hub for drug peddling.