NDTA update

In a presentation to the Residents Assembly on 23rd August, the Working Committee reported that while there is agreement that private development within the Master Plan is one of the most serious challenges facing Auroville, there is no consensus on the possible solution. On one side there are apprehensions that the constitution of a New Town Development Authority (NDTA) will infringe the autonomy of the Auroville Foundation, that it will not be an adequate guarantee that the Auroville Master Plan will be respected, and that an NTDA will bring more administrative and bureaucratic work.

Others felt that only a statutory land use approved by an appropriate planning authority has a strong grounding to be legally enforced. New proposals are being explored, also in view of the new Combined Building and Development Regulations recently approved by the Tamil Nadu government.