Shillong: Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned the national spotlight toward Meghalaya on Sunday. He praised the state's living root bridges, or Jingkieng Jri, during his latest Mann Ki Baat broadcast. The government wants UNESCO World Heritage status for these natural structures.
These bridges grow from the aerial roots of rubber trees. Local Khasi and Jaintia people guide these roots across rivers for decades to form sturdy crossings. It is slow work. "Unlike conventional bridges, these are shaped over several decades by carefully directing the aerial roots of rubber trees across rivers and streams," Modi said.
Over 120 of these bridges now stand under community protection. They serve as a green solution to environmental shifts. Padma awardee Hally War earned special praise for spending 50 years keeping this tradition alive.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma thanked the Prime Minister on X. He credited the indigenous communities for their long-term stewardship of the land. Modi urged the public to post photos online to build awareness for these fragile, bio-engineered wonders.
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