Press Releases

Padma Shri awardee and former UPSC Chairman Dr. David R. Syiemlieh, who attended the event as Chief Guest, shared his appreciation for being part of the discussion titled "Guiding the Preparation of World Heritage Nomination Dossier for Living Root Bridges." Dr. Syiemlieh emphasized the vital role the bridges play for local communities, especially in enabling river crossings. He explained that locals use bamboo and betel nut trunks to direct the roots across streams until they grow into functional footbridges. He further stated that while some root bridges have been lost over time, many still stand today—some even over a century old. He underscored their cultural and ecological significance and noted their wide presence across the Khasi and Jaintia Hills