Infrastructure work

From the end of July, sections of the paver blocks on the Crown road have been taken up and work has begun on replacing them with new blocks by a contractor appointed by the Public Works Department of the Government of India. The RA-appointed Working Committee asked Satprem, executive of the Earth Institute, to make a detailed study what is being done. On 10th August he published his report. Among other things his report noted that the road is extremely badly done and may cave in after the first rains; that the contractor does not follow the Indian standards; and that the old paver blocks made by the Auroville Road Service are stronger and more water resistant, meaning they are better for heavy traffic. It concludes that the design for the road is highly inappropriate for the climatic conditions of Auroville, and the road will be “unlivable during the hot season because of the heat caused by the sun radiation.”