Cease land exchange

In a letter sent to Dr. Jayanti Ravi and members of the Land Board sent by the four Working Groups selected by the Residents’ Assembly, they point out that they have come to know that land exchanges are in process and at least two have been finalised over the last months. According to different sources, these exchanges have resulted in huge financial losses to Auroville. 

One example of a huge financial loss to Auroville concerns a land exchange in October 2022 involving 1.50 acres of highly valuable Auroville land located on the Tindivanam highway. This was exchanged for 2.15 acres of farmland without access located within the Master Plan area. The Auroville land located on the highway is worth approximately Rs. 7.5 Crore while the land purchased inside the Industrial Zone of the Auroville Master Plan is approximately worth Rs. 1.5. This is a financial loss of approximately 6 crores to the Auroville Foundation. 

The letter concludes, “Until such time as there is transparency from and due process being followed by the Office of the Secretary, Auroville Foundation, and the Land Board, we, the four working groups selected by and therefore rightfully representing the Residents’ Assembly, demand that any and all land exchange considerations stop immediately.”