Auro Orchard land exchange

The RA-WCom informed the community that a critical situation has been unfolding at Auro Orchard. On 18th July, employees of the buyer closed fences, cutting off access to the home of two residents and members of the farm. This action also separated the farm’s cows from their shelter, food, and water sources. The root of this issue lies in a questionable land exchange brokered by the Auroville Foundation Office (AVFO) in November 2023. Despite previous assurances from the AVFO that the residents’ house and essential farm infrastructure would not be affected by the land exchange, the situation has been deteriorating with increased pressure from the buyer to vacate his land. With many broken promises to replace the affected infrastructure, Auro Orchard finds itself in a distressing situation. Attempts to negotiate with the buyer to restore access for one month, while administrative solutions could be worked out, failed. In addition, on 20th July, drinking water supply to the entire farm was stopped until it was noticed the next day that the electric fuses for the pump (now on the buyer’s land) were “removed/missing”. The fuses came back three days later. The RA-WCom has written to the GB, requesting it to address the situation and to uphold the assurances that homes and infrastructure would not be affected. The RA-WCom deems it unacceptable that the AVFO has effectively pitted residents against the buyer due to their mishandling of the exchange, and wrote that the AVFO’s and GB’s continued silence, despite repeated requests to intervene in a situation they have caused, is deeply concerning.