By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 29: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday welcomed the formal nomination of Meghalaya’s Living Root Bridge Cultural Landscape for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
In a video message following his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sangma thanked the PM and the Union Ministry of Culture for approving the proposal. He also acknowledged Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for supporting the nomination, calling it a major step toward securing international recognition for the state’s ecological legacy.
“The Living Root Bridges have been included in the tentative list submitted by the Government of India for inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I take this opportunity to thank the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Culture for accepting the proposal,” the chief minister said.
The nomination for the “Jingkieng Jri / Lyu Chrai Cultural Landscape, Meghalaya” was formally submitted in Paris by India’s Ambassador to UNESCO, Vishal V. Sharma, to the Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Lazare Eloundou Assomo.
Describing the development as a milestone, Sangma noted in a letter to the Prime Minister that the submission marks a proud moment for the state. He highlighted that the nomination is the result of eight years of work involving 63 villages, 42 cooperatives, and more than 120 living root bridges.
According to the Chief Minister, the cultural landscape reflects an integrated approach to managing forests, rivers, and traditional practices, underscoring the bond between local communities and nature in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills. He added that the landscape serves as an example of climate resilience and harmony between people and the environment.
