Meghalaya eyeing heritage tourism, plan to have small museum at old Assembly building: CM Conrad Sangma

Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has stressed on leveraging the tourism potential of heritage sites in Shillong and other parts of Meghalaya while asserting that there is a plan to open a small museum in a portion of the historic old Assembly building in the capital city Shillong.

Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has stressed on leveraging the tourism potential of heritage sites in Shillong and other parts of Meghalaya while asserting that there is a plan to open a small museum in a portion of the historic old Assembly building in the capital city Shillong.

Mr. Sangma was responding to a query from PTI on the sidelines of the 11th International Tourism Mart that kicked off on Tuesday evening in Shillong.

Shillong, which was the capital of undivided Assam, is nicknamed the 'Scotland of the East' and is known for its historical importance and pristine natural beauty. The three-day Mart seeks to focus on the tourism potential of the northeast, particularly Meghalaya which is the host State.

"I think a generic policy to ensure that these kinds of heritage sites are promoted from a tourist aspect, is definitely part of the overall strategy," he said.

"What is important is that we are bringing in different stakeholders together and really trying to discuss and connect different dots together out here. So, that is the purpose of today's programme," he said.

"The Legislative Assembly building site [in Shillong]... you are aware that the Assembly [building] got burnt almost about 20 years back. And therefore not much left of it. But we have not touched it, and left it as it is because we had to do some of the Assembly work there," he said during a press interaction.

"But as soon as we shift to the new Assembly site whose construction is going on... By September 2024, we expect to inaugurate it," he said. Mr. Sangma said the old building, a British-era structure, was used in undivided Assam and has a lot of history.