GUWAHATI: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday, August 17, inaugurated the state’s first eco-sustainable habitat, the ‘Pine Home’, at Mawlangwir village in South West Khasi Hills, while the Twahlongwar Open-Air Museum in Mawsynram was inaugurated remotely.
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The Pine Home, developed with an investment of ₹4 crore, combines local materials and traditional building practices with modern architectural and engineering techniques. Built by local masons and artisans, the project uses local wood and bricks and incorporates recycled wool between the walls as a natural heating system.
The initiative has been developed through a collaboration between the Picasso Pupils Art Society, Slovakia-based Emage Architecture Studio and the Saitsnad Multipurpose Co-operative Society, with support from the Meghalaya Tourism Department.
The Twahlongwar Open-Air Museum preserves the remains of a mid-18th-century Khasi settlement in Mawsynram. The archaeological site includes more than 20 structures, megaliths, an ancient market, an iron furnace and remnants of historical trade routes. The state government has sanctioned around Rs 63 lakh for infrastructure and research to develop the site as an archaeological tourism destination.
Speaking at the event, Sangma announced a ₹20-crore initiative involving 100 researchers to study the history of the Khasi, Pnar and Garo communities, including collaboration with DNA testing agencies.
The Chief Minister also said specialised development plans would be taken up for South West Khasi Hills, focusing on tourism, employment and road connectivity. He further said Shillong Airport is expected to be ready to handle larger aircraft by next year.
During the event, 15 beneficiaries under the Chief Minister’s Homestay Scheme received sanction letters of Rs 10 lakh each, while three tourism societies received ₹5 lakh each for developing tourism sites.
The two projects are aimed at combining sustainable tourism with the preservation of Meghalaya’s indigenous heritage and archaeological history.