Shillong, August 17: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announced on Monday that the Pine Home Eco-Sustainable Project, developed in Mawlangvir village of the southwest Khasi Hills district, could serve as an exemplary model for sustainable and community-based development in the state.
While inaugurating the project, CM Sangma emphasized that Pine Home demonstrates how environmental conservation, traditional knowledge, and modern technology can be integrated to create infrastructure that generates economic opportunities for local communities.
“Our aim is to promote modern innovation while preserving the natural environment,” he stated. He also highlighted features such as natural heating systems, the use of recycled materials, and rainwater conservation.
The Chief Minister noted that local artisans and workers played a crucial role in the construction of this project, with most materials sourced locally. This approach will help preserve local skills and maintain economic benefits within the community.
Developed at a cost of approximately ₹5.90 crore through the Saitsanat Multipurpose Cooperative Society, the project includes a restaurant, community building, conference and training facilities, guest rooms, and a tourism information center.
Sangma expressed the state government’s ambition to transform the southwest Khasi Hills into a tourism hub where visitors can stay longer and contribute more to the local economy.
He also mentioned the CM Homestay Mission, which aims to establish 3,000 homestays in Meghalaya by 2028, creating job and additional income opportunities.
Additionally, the Chief Minister virtually inaugurated the Twaahlongwar Open-Air Museum located in Mawsynram. He stated that these projects reflect the government’s vision of extending development beyond Shillong.
“Our goal is for Garo Hills, Khasi Hills, and Jaintia Hills to progress together,” Sangma said, emphasizing that this vision is being realized through community-based projects that respect the natural environment.
He referred to Pine Home as a ‘living laboratory’ and Twaahlongwar as a ‘living classroom,’ suggesting that the experiences gained from these initiatives could inform the development of climate-friendly schools, health centers, eco-lodges, and homestays in the future.
Sangma also mentioned the Chief Minister’s Research Grant Scheme, which has supported 48 researchers in its first year. Under the ‘Tracing the Roots’ initiative, 75 researchers will visit Vietnam, Cambodia, and Tibet to study the origins and historical journeys of the Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo communities.
“A society that knows its past and roots moves confidently into the future,” he concluded.
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