The Cabinet has approved the amendment to the Meghalaya Heritage Act, 2012 for the State to improve its chances of getting UNESCO recognition.
Meghalaya’s living root bridges, found in over 70 villages in the state, is on the tentative list of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. The tentative list serves as an inventory of important heritage sites that countries intend to nominate for UNESCO recognition in the future.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said after the cabinet meeting that the amendment to the Act will strengthen the state’s submission to UNESCO.
He said the amendment proposes to exclude the land acquisition for Living Heritage under the Act so as not to affect the traditional existing community land holding system. Community involvement is therefore proposed through community representatives at various levels, he added.
