A great work and some great lies

On the positive side the most brilliant moment was when we discussed the Master Plan (MP) and the foresters and green-belters in general, after many discussions, decided to support this document. Everybody was extremely happy. This important document is laying down the foundations for the City that the Mother had envisaged and it was accepted in its integrity. The document was ratified by the RA in 1999 with an absolute majority of the residents, a consensus of more than 95 per cent.

This agreement is important for several reasons. Firstly, because it is safeguarding a model to integrate two different perspectives which all over the world are frequently in conflict, the respect for the environment and at the same time the respect for the development of the city. Secondly, because it has the potential to establish a solid base to collaborate and avoid many useless discussions and potential divisions.

Unfortunately, in the following years this agreement saw the appearance of an increasing number of disagreements that have put one of the most brilliant moments of our community in question. Most of these dis- agreements have come from a coalition of the same members of the forest people and some architects. This situation has culminated in the tumultuous happenings of these last days.

When did it start to deviate? What are the main facts that have contributed to the pre- sent conflict? After watching with stomach pain what has happened in the last few days, I want to contribute some facts that can per- haps help to understand better the origin of some of the present problems we are facing. For example, in 2016 the main working groups of AV presented to the Foundation a plan from the Electrical Service to install a high tension underground cable alongside the Crown. This plan was approved by the Indian Government with an amount of almost 50 lakhs, and the project should have been finalized 2 months after the date of commencement. But the work was stopped by a number of people connected with the green groups and the youth center. Until today in December 2021 (5 years later!) this project has not yet been implemented despite all efforts and conversations, the two cable rolls are still lying at the opposite ends of the road, approx. 300 meters apart, and incur a daily loss of approximately Rs 5,000 according to the Electrical Service. AV has not implemented and has not returned this money to the GOI grant. This is only one fact but it is a telling behavior of some of the signatories of the MP .

There are other facts that can contribute to put same light on this conflict. For many years, forest members have been planting trees, sometimes precious trees in areas reserved for city construction and development. The same thing happened in the Youth Center, where the main building and the tree

planting was done on purpose in areas reserved for the future Crown. This indicates clearly a will of non-collaboration, and a lack of sincerity and honesty with respect to the MP. What are the reasons behind these actions? We can see now clearly that it was done to postpone, to create problems and to stop, if possible, any future city development. When did it start? This misconception started many years ago, probably soon after signing the MP or a little later if we judge by the size of the trees. This was an exercise of careful long-term planning. Why did the same members of the green people who had earlier agreed to the MP act in this way? My own interpretation is that when they were in need of certain powers to protect their huge areas of forest they were ready to sign any kind of agreement, even with the Indian administration, but they didn’t have even the least intention to implement these agreements in the areas designated for the City development.

During the last years the pressure and critics against the MP increased constantly, this culminated some months ago when the green group and the Youth Centre openly presented their views in the Unity Pavilion in a ‘general meeting’ in which they put the Crown in question. At this moment it became officially clear that the consensus obtained by the absolute majority of this community around the Master Plan was broken and all their disastrous consequences were going to start.

With the announcement of the new Governing Board, all these internal contra- dictions exploded. The new Governing

Board explained their strong commitment to accelerate the building of the City, and offered big funding to AV for that. For the first time ever AV was going to have the necessary funds to start building the most urgent infrastructures. Clearly this is the BEST OPPORTUNITY that AV has had in its entire history to develop its City. Unfortunately, all these hidden factors by the green groups have surfaced also. The new secretary Madam Jayanti negotiated all the hot points in the construction of the Crown with all concerned, some knots were resolved, but in the end also all the falsehood came to the surface and the absolute refusal to implement the agreements made in the Master Plan that stands as the only legal document. Who is responsible for this “Ecological Catastrophe” that the same group is announcing in an out of proportion manner in all the media? In my opinion the group that decided to plant the trees in the areas reserved for construction.

It is equally clear that today this conglomerate of green members, and architects etc, supporting this option are substituting the Mother’s dream by their exclusive Green Paradise dream, that will be the inevitable course of action if we are not able to stop it.

Sincerely, 

Joseba

P.S. I was involved in the planning office and the Development group during the years of elaborating the Master Plan.