Matrimandir lake presentation

On 19th September, Michael Bonke presented to the community future plans for the Matrimandir lake. This includes an underwater reservoir for drinking water, the first in the world, sufficient to support 50,000 Aurovilians for 100 days; and the development of hydro-power storage directly linked to a solar plant towards making Auroville independent of the TNEB grid. He said that work on the first section of the lake had confirmed that deep water storage using HDPE foil is successful so a 10 metre deep lake is feasible. He also pointed out that evaporation would be much less at this depth than in a shallower lake. He also explained that islands or peninsulas in the lake would interfere with the current, which is essential for oxygenation of the water, and that trees on isolated islands in the lake could not survive. 

One of the points raised was that tests on the test lake had not been completed, and therefore it was premature to continue with new excavations. However, Michael said that studies done elsewhere in the world confirmed the feasibility of what they were doing. 

An open letter, sent after the meeting and signed by a number of Aurovilians, appreciated his presentation but asked that a plan of this magnitude be peer-reviewed by eminent experts, especially those working in our climate zone. It also questioned the extent of the present lake excavation as Mother’s original drawing, which Michael had shown at the meeting, suggested the lake would be smaller. And it made an urgent appeal: ‘Please consider beauty as equally important as technology’.