Residents of Auroville are demanding increased transparency and involvement in decisions impacting their community, as tensions rise over the township's development trajectory . During an exhibition titled “Auroville: An Experiment Under Threat” on Saturday, they expressed concerns about adherence to the Auroville Foundation Act of 1988 and the implications of major decisions on land,ecology, and the future of the international township.
“We want meaningful participation of residents in decisions affecting the community we have built over the last 60 years,” one resident stated. The exhibition attracted various visitors, including notable figures such as politicians and activists like Piyush Manush, Vetrimaaran,Andrea Jeremiah, and Americai V. Narayanan.
Critics of the current administration argue that development initiatives imposed by the Central Public Works Department contradict Auroville’s founding ideals. Arun Ambathy, a social entrepreneur involved with Auroville since 2018, highlighted concerns regarding the use of heavy cement for road construction and the lack of offsetting measures for environmental impact . He asserted that current governance is detrimental not only to Auroville residents but also to the surrounding villages .
“We call upon the Tamil Nadu government to enforce the rule of law in matters related to land administration and law and order,” Ambathy added, emphasizing need for accountability.
Prashant Hedao, a planner and geographer,stressed the importance of recognizing Residents’ Assembly in decision-making processes. He noted that, despite an increased governmental presence, residents must have a voice in Auroville's affairs. “Just five years ago,the Residents’ Assembly was very much involved in what was going on in the township. Now we are a fractured community,” he lamented, pointing out that fear has stifled open communication among residents.
Activist Piyush Manush condemned the environmental destruction occurring under the guise of development,citing numerous police reports related to land exchanges. He called for a reevaluation of the current trajectory, which he believes threatens community's ecological integrity.
In response to the criticism,Sindhuja Jagadeesh,a member of the Auroville Town Development Council, defended township's development approach . She acknowledged the need for healthy debate but insisted that discussions should be based on factual information rather than narratives disconnected from Auroville's legal and administrative realities. “Residents continue to participate in Auroville’s functioning through working groups,project teams, community initiatives,and consultative processes,” she asserted .
Jagadeesh also addressed the legal challenges surrounding land exchanges conducted by the Auroville Foundation, which have been contested in various courts,including Supreme Court. She stated that these exchanges were land-for-land transactions, dismissing allegations of financial misconduct as speculative and unfounded.
Anuradha Majumdar, a member of the Working Committee of the Residents’ Assembly, defended ongoing construction efforts,asserting that they are part of the statutory Master Plan aimed at enhancing connectivity. She emphasized that Auroville is in crucial construction phase,which will continue for several years as it strives to realize Galaxy Plan .
Regarding the removal of trees,Majumdar clarified that approximately 4,000 full-grown trees were cut down,a small fraction of the 3 million trees planted in area. She noted that some of the removed trees did not meet the minimum size requirements for classification. These actions,she argued, are in pursuit of the Master Plan upheld by the Supreme Court.
