SHILLONG: The internationally acclaimed living root bridges in the state are facing huge pressure from the ever increasing tourists that has made the Living Bridge Foundation apprehensive that the more than 100 such bridges in the state may cease to exist if the flow of tourists is not regulated.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, founder member of the Foundation, Morningstar Khongthaw lamented that tourists reach in huge numbers and walk on the living root bridges thereby causing a lot of pressure on the inter-twined roots and hampering growth.
“The living root bridges are causing a negative impact as they are also living and needs to grow but if thousand footsteps fall on the bridge every day, it will soon die,”Khongthaw said.
Asked about how are they managing it now, Khongthaw said that they were working with the community to conserve it and their objective is to multiply, preserve and protect.
He, however, said that there was no scheme from the government to help them out in their endeavour although there is hundred percent participation from the community.
Referring to the ongoing survey and meeting conducted by the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA) to recognise the living root bridge to get the heritage tag from UNESCO, Khongthaw said that they were not happy with the ongoing process that has sidelined the stakeholders and their contribution in the conservation.
Meghalaya has seen a tremendous surge in tourists flow in the past few years and it is only increasing. However, there is no regulation in place which has resulted in overcrowding and littering.
He also said that the a meeting was held last year at the level of Chief Secretary and it was decided to conserve and protect the bridges even as he added that the meeting was attended by experts, Government department and communities but the stakeholders were not invited to the meeting.
Informing that they met the Chief Secretary and Deputy Commissioner of the District on the matter, he added that the DC office had not been informed about the survey and the meetings which were being conducted in the blocks
“The foundation is not against the idea of getting heritage tag from UNESCO, but we are not satisfied with the process since the main stakeholders have been sidelined,” he said.
The foundation wants more details about the ongoing process and on what basis, the MBDA has been engaged as consultant to conduct meetings in every block without informing the district administration.