Auroville's monthly news magazine since 1988

New Town Development Authority (NTDA)

Experiencing the Working Committee

The seven members of the former Working Committee

In February this year the community selected new members for four major working groups. Christine asked Carel, whose term of office has come to an end after serving two terms in the Working Committee, about his 6-years’ experience.

New approach to land protection

Until now the approach proposed by the Tamil Nadu Govt to Auroville has been to constitute first of all an authority (NTDA), make a development plan, and then carry out a public consultation.

NDTA update

In a presentation to the Residents Assembly on 23rd August, the Working Committee reported that while there is agreement that private development within the Master Plan is one of the most serious challenges facing Auroville, there is no consensus on the possible solution.

Proposed National Highway threatens Auroville

Map showing the new highway through the Auroville Greenbelt (in blue dots) as originally routed and the four bypasses proposed by Auroville: along National Highway 66, and then reaching the East Coast Road along an existing road (in pink)

Survey markings in the Greenbelt installed by a consultant working for the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) revealed that plans were afoot to build a four-lane National Highway through the Auroville Green Belt for a length of 3.5 kilometers, crossing the Forecomers, Pitchandikulam and Aurogreen areas.

How to protect the lands for Auroville

On May 7th, the Land Protection Group presented in a public meeting its findings on the best way to protect the land needed for the Auroville township from unsolicited development.

Land protection workshops

A series of workshops were held to explore possibilities in regards to protecting Auroville land. The first two mornings focused on ground realities and provided the outlines of four proposals.

“You have to keep going forward”: a portrait of Pashi

Pashi Kapur

Pashi Kapur came to live in Auroville with his family in early 1974. Since then, he has contributed a great deal but his Auroville journey has not always been smooth.

A New Town Development Authority for Auroville?