Dr. Karan Singh worried about slow pace of land acquisition

New Delhi, December 5, 2013

Dear Aurovilians,

I had occasion to review the progress of land consolidation with the Auroville Working Groups dealing with the issue of land on 8th November, 2013. I was dismayed to learn that since 1st April, 2013, Auroville has managed to secure only about 5 acres of land. The progress in land consolidation has been very slow for many years now.

The Board finds the progress highly unsatisfactory. The City envisaged by the Mother is under serious threat from speculative developers buying large tracts of land in the neighbourhood. Land prices have risen exponentially, making it difficult for Auroville to raise the resources required to purchase all the remaining lands in the City and the Green Belt. While the Government of India has been increasing financial support to Auroville through Plan Grants, we cannot expect funds from the Government of India to purchase lands. In the present situation, Auroville has no option but to raise resources through sale/lease of lands outside the Master Plan Area. It is incomprehensible to me and my colleagues in the Board as to why the possessive attitude of a few residents refusing to move from their present location should block all progress in land consolidation. Residents need to remind themselves that they have been chosen especially for building the City that the Mother wanted, “with no private property”. It is also clearly not acceptable that even preliminary talks with the Mailam Swamy who owns a large tract of land in the Green Belt are being blocked. The Governing Board has, therefore, authorized the Secretary of the Auroville Foundation to have exploratory talks with the Swamy.

I call upon all residents to understand the seriousness of the issue and close ranks in a sincere effort to secure lands in the city area by 31st March, 2015. We also need to evolve a clear strategy for protecting the Green Belt through acquisition/exchange of critical lands to control access.

Yours sincerely,

Karan Singh

Extract from a letter of May 7, 2014

The second matter which, as you know, has been weighing on my mind is the whole question of land acquisition by purchase or exchange. I do not see any major break-through yet in this area, and every month that is lost means that the price of land is rising and the dangers of commercial interest intruding into Auroville steadily growing. I am unable to understand why the community is not taking this matter up with the seriousness that it deserves. In the final analysis, if we do not get the land we will not be able to build the city.

Warm regards and best wishes to you all,

Karan Singh