Published: February 2021 (5 years ago) in issue Nº 379
Keywords: Crown controversy, Crown clearing, Surveys, Youth Centre, Bliss forest, Forest Group, Auroville Town Development Council (ATDC) / L’Avenir d’Auroville, Right of Ways (RoW), High Tension cables, Radial roads, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), General Meetings and RAD (Residents’ Assembly Decision)
The Right of Way debate
Illustration: Right of Ways according to the 2025 Master Plan
A year ago, in February 2020, there was an attempt to survey a route through the Youth Centre and Bliss forest for the laying of a High Tension cable. The Forest Group and Youth Centre objected and proposed an alternative route following existing roads. The Town Development Council (TDC) requested an Environmental Impact Assessment to justify a deviation of the planned route as the HT cable ring project is Government of India funded. The EIA was completed in July: the conclusion was to lay the cable along existing roads rather than through the Youth Centre and Bliss forest.
A community process was initiated on November 2nd with all parties involved, including the Youth Centre, the Forest Group, the TDC, thA year ago, in February 2020, there was an attempt to survey a route through the Youth Centre and Bliss foree Auroville Electrical Service, and the Government of India Grant Group. It was agreed by all that the TDC in consultation with the Bliss forest stewards will explore the alternative route along the roads and, if no consensus can be reached, a General Meeting followed by a Residents Assembly Decision process would be initiated.
However, on November 9th, 2020, the Acting Secretary of the Auroville Foundation advised the Town Development Council (TDC) to clear all Right of Ways (RoWs) along the Crown, Outer Ring and all Radials on the basis of the Master Plan (Perspectives 2025); according to the Master Plan, the RoW for the Crown has a width of 30 metres.
A year ago, in February 2020, there was an attempt to survey a route through the Youth Centre and Bliss forest for the laying of a High Tension cable. The Forest Group and Youth Centre objected and proposed an alternative route following existing roads. The Town Development Council (TDC) requested an Environmental Impact Assessment to justify a deviation of the planned route as the HT cable ring project is Government of India funded. The EIA was completed in July: the conclusion was to lay the cable along existing roads rather than through the Youth Centre and Bliss forest.
A community process was initiated on November 2nd with all parties involved, including the Youth Centre, the Forest Group, the TDC, thA year ago, in February 2020, there was an attempt to survey a route through the Youth Centre and Bliss foree Auroville Electrical Service, and the Government of India Grant Group. It was agreed by all that the TDC in consultation with the Bliss forest stewards will explore the alternative route along the roads and, if no consensus can be reached, a General Meeting followed by a Residents Assembly Decision process would be initiated.
However, on November 9th, 2020, the Acting Secretary of the Auroville Foundation advised the Town Development Council (TDC) to clear all Right of Ways (RoWs) along the Crown, Outer Ring and all Radials on the basis of the Master Plan (Perspectives 2025); according to the Master Plan, the RoW for the Crown has a width of 30 metres.
In pursuance of this, contravening the ongoing community process, on 17th December the TDC issued a work order to clear a stretch of the Crown through Bliss forest and the Youth Centre and to lay an underground HT cable along this route.
Consequently, the Forest Group and Youth Centre have called for a General Meeting to be followed by a Residents Assembly Decision (RAD) to decide upon the route to be followed. In response, those residents who support the action of the TDC have written a letter to oppose the holding of an RAD on this topic, saying it is unnecessary and inappropriate to call for an RAD when infrastructure services are being installed upon Right of Ways already defined by the Master Plan.
Notwithstanding this, a General Meeting to be followed by a Residents Assembly Decision on this topic is being prepared by the Residents Assembly Service.
While this is a specific case, the larger issue of city development that underlies it has divided the community for many years. In order to provide an overview, we invited an individual from each perspective to explain their position.