Right of Way disputed

Members of the Forest Group and many others Aurovilians are objecting to the partial clearing of the existing forests to allow for so-called Rights of Ways (RoWs) – three-metres wide stretches of open land to lay High Tension and other cables – along the proposed Crown road, the proposed Outer Ring Road and the proposed Radials, as has recently been advised by the Acting Secretary of the Auroville Foundation to the Town Development Council (TDC). The first focus is on the proposed partial clearing of the Bliss Forest which has a rich tree cover and houses the Youth Centre, for the laying of a high tension (HT) underground cable.

The Forest Group observed that the proposed clearing would have an immense impact on Auroville’s afforestation work and the present-day unique character of Auroville in this region and beyond. It would mean the near destruction of unique afforested areas within the Auroville city area and the Greenbelt. In the case of the Bliss Forest, it pointed out that the laying of the HT cable with its required service access along the existing road would be easier, faster and at a similar cost than cutting through the planted area of Bliss and the Youth Centre, as was shown in the Environmental Impact Assessment made by the Forest Group.

The Forest Group informed the Secretary about the ongoing discussions between the Forest Group and the TDC to find common ground with regard to the laying of the HT cable as a first step towards participative planning on issues which have blocked Auroville’s development for a long time. Only if this would not result in finding common ground, the matter would be brought to the Residents Assembly for an informed decision-making process.