Matrimandir Lake tree removal

The RA TDC shared a report on the second phase of the Matrimandir Lake excavation and tree cutting. The excavation is taking place over approximately 4 acres of land and endangers around 125 trees including “a large number of very old Neem trees”. These actions, the report states, go against the National Green Tribunal (Southern Zone) judgement as well as stray from the recent practice whereby “the [Matrimandir] gardens have been designed through collaborative community participation”. A number of the old trees have been cut, and Aurovilians gathered to protect an old neem which had been standing by the Visitors viewing point. Its fate is not known but discussions concerning preserving some of the old trees are continuing. Jan, the engineer who designed the MM test lake, gave Aurovilians a tour of the site and stressed that for something as important as the Matrimandir Lake proper planning approval is necessary which studies all the factors. A document is being prepared that presents the concerns regarding the planned Matrimandir lake as discussed during the recent visits to the site, and proposes steps towards working out technically sound and harmonious solutions. Meanwhile Narad, who was entrusted by the Mother with the task of building the Matrimandir Gardens, has resigned from his work in the gardens, partly in protest against the planned removal of the Neem trees.