Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma inaugurates first eco-sustainable habitat 'Pine Home' and open-air museum

Guwahati:: In a landmark step toward advancing sustainable tourism and community-centric development, SConrad K. Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya officially inaugurated the State’s first eco-sustainable habitat, the ‘Pine Home’ project, at Mawlangwir Village in South West Khasi Hills. The event also witnessed the remote inauguration of the Twahlongwar Open-Air Museum, reinforcing Meghalaya’s commitment to preserving its rich cultural heritage while promoting eco-tourism.

The ‘Pine Home’ Eco-Tourism Model Project stands as a novel and unique initiative that seamlessly blends global architectural excellence with local competence, principles, and ethos. Constructed by local masons and artisans, the project integrates indigenous aesthetics with global engineering and technology frameworks.

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Marking a major milestone as the State’s first eco-sustainable habitat, the project is designed as a dedicated space for art, creativity, and community engagement. It was brought to life through the collaborative efforts of the Picasso Pupils Art Society, Slovakia-based Emage Architecture Studio, and the Saitsnad Multipurpose Co-operative Society, with the support of the Department of Tourism, Government of Meghalaya. Backed by a financial outlay of Rs 4 crore from the State government, it serves as a holistic model for green tourism, climate-resilient architecture, and sustainable community living. Furthermore, the initiative operates in seamless integration with the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Homestay Mission, aimed at empowering local families to manage eco-friendly spaces and generate economic opportunities.

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Adding another significant dimension to the Government of Meghalaya’s commitment to preserving cultural heritage, the Twahlongwar Open-Air Museum in Mawsynram brings attention to an important chapter of the region’s history. The site preserves the remains of an early Khasi settlement that once served as a vibrant centre of trade and community life. Preserving a mid-18th-century settlement, the scientifically validated archaeological site contains over 20 structures, megaliths, an ancient market, an iron furnace, and historical trade routes. The initiative aims to protect indigenous Khasi history and culture while transforming the location into a key centre for archaeological tourism. Designed to combine preservation with interpretation, the museum will enable visitors to explore the archaeological findings while gaining a deeper understanding of the region’s history and cultural legacy. To support this, the Government of Meghalaya has already sanctioned around Rs 63 lakh for infrastructure creation and research to develop the Twahlongwar Open-Air Museum, with the initiative envisioned as an important centre for heritage and archaeological tourism.

Sangma expressed his gratitude towards the collective efforts in making the project a reality. Outlining the philosophy of governance, the Chief Minister emphasised, “For us as a government, we’ve always believed that our job is limited to providing the ecosystem and providing the support and the policies, for enterprise and for organisations to thrive.” Highlighting the sustainability aspect of the new infrastructure, he emphasised its eco-friendly design, which seamlessly incorporates a natural heating system utilising recycled wool between the walls to trap heat. Coupled with the maximum use of local wood and bricks, he noted that utilising local products is what makes the project sustainable in the true sense, expressing his vision that this will lead the way for many more such projects in the future.

Reflecting on the Twahlongwar Open-Air Museum, he underscored that the genesis of the project lies in ensuring that the region's rich heritage is never forgotten. “Our culture, our history, our traditions are what makes us unique”, he stated. To further explore these origins, he announced the formation of a committee with an assigned budget of Rs 20 crore, wherein 100 researchers will travel and tie up with DNA testing agencies to go deep down into the history of the Khasi, Pnar, and Garo tribes.

Reaffirming his optimism for the State’s trajectory, he affirmed, “The process is on, the direction is correct and people have started believing that Meghalaya can change, people have started believing that yes, Meghalaya can be in the top 10 states in the country.”

He outlined specialised development plans for South West Khasi Hills, focusing on tourism, employment, and massive road infrastructure, and stated that Shillong Airport will be ready to accommodate larger aircraft by next year, a critical milestone he hailed as a gamechanger poised to open Meghalaya's tourism sector to the world.

As part of the Chief Minister’s Homestay Scheme, 15 selected beneficiaries received sanction letters of Rs 10 lakh each to support the creation and improvement of tourist accommodation infrastructure. Furthermore, to strengthen community-based tourism infrastructure, 3 registered tourism societies were awarded sanction letters of Rs 5 lakh each for developing new tourism sites in the region.