LBF slams govt for sidelining stakeholders of living root bridges

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 3, 2019

SHILLONG: The Living Bridge Foundation (LBF) has slammed the state government for allegedly sidelining the stakeholders while taking the initiative to ensure the traditional knowledge of preserving the living root bridges get heritage tag from the UNESCO. 

Addressing media persons here on Tuesday, chairman of the foundation Morningstar Khongthaw said the stakeholders of the living root bridges were never invited to the meeting convened by the government for protecting and conserving the living root bridges on January 25, last year. 

He said they were informed that the said meeting was only attended by experts and officials of the state government.

Khongthaw further informed that they had recently sought clarification from deputy commissioner of East Khasi Hills District on the survey and meetings conducted in every block and locality of Laitkroh, Shella-Bholaganj and Mawsynram by the consultants from the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA).

“We were told that the DC office was never informed about such initiatives. In this regard, we had already written to the chief secretary requesting clarification on the matter since the stakeholders of the living root bridges were never invited to any meeting,” he said.  

Asked, Khongthaw said the foundation and the stakholders are not against the work for getting heritage tag of these traditional heritages from United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

“But we are not satisfied with the ongoing process which sideline the stakeholders and their valuable contribution in the conservation,” he said adding “Living roots architecture is part of our culture and tradition and they are the living testimony of coexistence peoples with nature, they have exist for hundred years.” 

He said the stakeholders fail to understand about the ongoing process conducted by the consultants from MBDA. “We would also like to know on what basis they are hiring consultants,” Khongthaw said while maintaining that the stakeholders do not need experts to teach them how to preserve and conserve the living root bridges.