Include Us in Discussions: ‘Living Bridge’ Stakeholders

A REPORTER

SHILLONG: The Living Bridge Foundation along with stakeholders for conservation and protection of living roots architecture has expressed their opposition against the regulations framed at a meeting held on January 25, 2018.

Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, chairman and founder of Living Bridge Foundation Morningstar Khongthaw said, “We cannot accept the decision of the government to enforce their regulation at a meeting held last year as we — the stakeholders and landowners — were not present at the meeting.”

Adding that the meeting was called by the government along with experts to propose a push for the recognition of the ‘living root bridges’ in the area as a UNESCO heritage site, he pointed out “however, the land owners and the people involved in building these root bridges were not invited. Hence, we cannot accept the regulation which was decided at the meeting. How can they ask us to sign the agreement which was decided by them and we were not involved? We will not sign the regulations framed by people unknown (experts) to us.”

“We have also apprised the Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills on this matter,” he said.

Further stating that “we are not against the move of the State government to identify the area as a UNESCO heritage site; however, they should also involve the landowners and stakeholders in the discussion and not leave it to experts from outside the village.”

Also Read: Villagers Join Hands To Preserve 200-Year-Old Living Root Bridge In Nohwet, Meghalaya

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