News & Notes 605:L'avenir D'Auroville/Town Development Council (TDC) June 2015 report

News & Notes 605
11 July 2015

Entity::L'avenir D'Auroville/Town Development Council (TDC) June 2015 report

Reminder: This report is a synopsis of key topics discussed in regular meetings. It does not include any communication that has been published in the News & Notes or on the Auronet webpage of L’avenir d’Auroville / Town Development Council (TDC), such as community announcements, financial reports and site or building permissions.

Regular members: Cristo (Regional Development), Jacqueline (Urban Design) is TOS, Manohar (WC representative) present one meeting a week, Sauro (Overall Coordination and Facilitation), and Toby (Township Development).

Punctual attendees: Alain Grandcolas, Bertrand, Dorle, Dustudio (Dhruv and Dharmesh), Green Group (GG) representatives (Jeff, Priya, Yuval), Housing Service (HS) representatives (Jeff, Victoria), Kaja (DDP for RZ 1 & 2), altenergiez representative (Manosh Bardhan), Paul Vincent, Sumark (Kevin and Peter), and Suhasini.

TDC-RELATED TOPICS

Waste Management volunteers

The TDC was working with several volunteers on solid waste management projects and fund-raisers. However, new visa regulations are being put in place where no financial support is possible for the volunteers, which will probably put a damper on future volunteering applications.

Mapping, survey and GIS team

a) Land-related data: The team members are working together to streamline and make all data easily accessible.

b) Surveyor list: The TDC and the WAT team have set up a list of surveyors for the GIS team.

Standing Order (SO) and vacancies

Following the TDC’s urgent request for new coordinators, the WC and the TDC exchanged several emails concerning the SO and vacancies. Furthermore, the TDC uploaded the SO and the Office Order (OO) on the Auronet (see Home > References > Mandates & Policies > L’avenir d’Auroville / Town Development Council (TDC) or https://www.auroville.org.in/page/lavenir-dauroville-town-development-council-tdc).

Summary: The SO (dated May 1st 2011) was set up by the Governing Board (GB) for the constitution of the TDC. This document sums up the role of the TDC coordinators and so on (somewhat like a job description).

On October 12th 2012, the Residents Assembly (RA) and the WC sent a list of names (proposed TDC coordinators) to the GB. The OO provides clarity on the term of office: 4 years from October 24th 2012. The mandate of the TDC coordinators therefore ends on October 24th 2016, and 6 months beforehand (April 24th 2016) the new council members will be nominated and instated.

Technical team

By the end of July, their work will be wrapped up and submitted to Dr. Doshi. After that, the TDC will be able to take decisions on further work.

Employment

a) Full-time secretary: One part-time secretary will work full-time from July 1st onwards.

b) Contract renewal: This contract concerns a member of the regional planning team, whose role is to interact with local authority and facilitate the approach to government schemes that he is familiar with.

c) Detailed Development Plan (DDP): It was decided to complete the work on the DDP with the existing team (Luis Feduchi and Kaja Delezuch) as well as 2 additional students (preferably one Indian), with regard to the preparation of detailed parameters for the Development Units (plots). In the meantime, the feedback process on the overall planning is still ongoing.

d) WAT team: After studying an engineer’s CV, it was decided to employ her on a 6-month trial basis.

General Meeting (GM)

Following the GM held on June 19th, the TDC would like to point out that meetings should be held for professional topics, not personal attacks.

Housing Board

A TDC representative needs to be found to attend the Housing Board meetings.

FINANCIAL TOPICS

GOI grant

The TDC discussed the details of the GOI grant and a projection to the end of the year will be prepared for the Monitoring Committee of the WC.

Office expenses

a) New computer

b) Internet connection

HOUSING TOPICS

Residential Zone, Sectors 1 & 2

Following the publication of the Detailed Development Plan (DDP), several people were interested in developing several plots in these sectors and came to the TDC for information and details so a meeting was organized with Kaja Delezuch.

a) Soffio (Dorle and Anita):

This project is based on the DDP for RZ 1&2 and Suhasini’s study regarding density and population, also taking into account the following points: various sites; buffer zones; slope and waterways (aiming at percolation); peramboke land; mobility and accessibility. Public green spaces should include housing, sport amenities and activities and are not to be “separated” by fences etc. These spaces will contain no WWT pipes, no service corridors and must be modular as they may evolve.

b) Sumark (Peter and Kevin):

Regarding the development of the area between the Vikas radial and Invocation IV, it is requested to change the typology of future buildings (innovative construction materials, cost and space management). Equilibrium must be found between varied characteristics (such as high density and public amenities). To do this, the building should not encompass too much buffer and be on the road for more accessibility and to make it public-oriented. The construction of this area can be phased and, in time, accommodate arising needs.

c) Dustudio (Dhruv and Dharmesh):

Dustudio would like to begin planning a new residential building resembling Swayam, but denser, more urban, comprising maybe 1 extra floor, taking into account the density and green spaces as defined by the DDP, as well as correlating with the Line of Force and surrounding communities.

d) Humanscapes (Suhasini):

This project is promoted by the Foundation and supported by the TDC. Until a project holder is found, a dedicated GOI grant has been opened.

Conclusion:

The TDC will further assess these proposals and define detailed parameters to provide an appropriate DU allocation and site layout.

Site and Building Applications

Approximately 20 site and building applications were studied in June, whether for feedback, discussion, follow-up, etc.

Housing for Youth Action Group

a) Humanscapes:

A project holder is needed. One suggestion was Vika and Sonja from the Housing Service/Board and Kavitha for the youth link. The client body needs to be identified for financial and contracting aspects and for the project to move on. It was highlighted that most of the young adults that the Youth Action Group has spoken to have families and their needs should be taken into account. Phase 2 or 3 would be more adapted to their needs.

b) Experimental house-building zone

A zone will be allocated to 5-6 people/families so that they can build alone-standing houses by themselves with the supervision of an architect. However, the TDC needs information on potential people to set up the project, such as the size of the house, the budget, etc. With a concept project, fund-raising activities can start. Funds and grants generally depend on sustainability and urban dimensions/objectives (for example: building with experimental materials).

LAND-RELATED TOPICS

Under-utilized lands

The TDC along with the WC and the Green Group (GG) are concerned about the protection and utilization of several plots. One idea was to plant trees (ex: work trees) that can easily be cut and generate funds in the future. The TDC is preparing a map showing plot ownership in the city to then determine stewardship and finally lay out a development plan (near-future or later developments).

New land next to ARKA

Part of this land is permanently reserved for the park; the rest will be jointly taken care of (by the RS and Glenn) on a temporary basis until some other appropriate development takes place in the Cultural Zone.

ROADS

International Zone (IZ) loop road

The IZ team wishes to develop the zone further and a plan is needed to be able to locate the transformer etc. in a logical manner with regard to the position of the road. Various alignments are being studied in the IZ to avoid peramboke land and the cemetery.

Private Lands on the Crown road

To secure Auroville land and roads, the TDC is studying the option of building roads that circumvent private land. Several ideas have been raised, such as fencing off private lands, making a bend in the road, etc.

Sign boards

The TDC received a request to change several sign boards. Collaboration with the Auroville Foundation (as they had started the sign-board project) and the Road Service (who will execute the work as these signs are located on/near roads) is necessary.

Private Developments via AV roads

Roads touching private land often leads to unwanted development. AV roads may not be used for JCB access; the best way to counter this would be to fence the access to these private lands.

Safety issues around road crossings

a) Matrimandir:

These roads were moved for the excavation, but many issues regarding safety have been raised. Poppo has been contacted.

b) Solar Kitchen:

Several ideas were brought up, such as STOP signs, street lights, speed limit signs and security cameras. There is a high probability that several of these ideas would not be respected if they were to be installed, so the TDC is studying the “roundabout” vs. “straight crossing” option.

Road plan presentation

The TDC will shortly be presenting an overall road / access plan (for the Residential Zone, Industrial Zone, Crown road, etc.).

Access road to the Industrial Zone

The best option is by KOFPU straight to the tar road as there are no buildings and the community has already been split into 2 by AV Council arbitration. This road will be included in the road study. The Farm Group will be informed of upcoming road markings.

Crossing peramboke lands

Regarding the Mangalam radial, an agreement is being reached between Kottakarai and the WC.

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Pitchandikulam pond

The TDC helped sort out the problem and ensured that further dealing under the MNREG (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee) program was done in a non-destructive manner. Discussions are on-going with members of the Kuilapalayam village elders, the Bommayarpalayam panchayat and the Block Development Office (BDO) to identify possible works under this program as alternatives to digging this pond.

District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) in Villipuram

Requests have been received from the DRDA in Villipuram to provide technical support with the beach beautification program in Bommayarpalayam. The engineers of the local Public Work Department (PWD) were met at the beachside in order for them to prepare an estimate for the work. A further request concerned the Solid Waste Management (SWM) program covering the 6 villages of the Bommayarpalayam and Irumbai panchayats. The TDC is on contact with all the groups dealing with SWM in Auroville who have agreed to provide assistance to the government- sponsored project for SWM in our area.

Water For All

The TDC has become part of a regional campaign named Water For All that aims at raising the awareness of the residents in our watershed, i.e. a radius of approx. 40 km North, West and South of Auroville. This work is conducted in collaboration with PondyCAN and several NGOs in our region.

GROUPS, ZONES, SERVICES

Green Group (GG)

a) Sustainable Livelihood Institute (SLI):

Concerning lands around the Irumbai Lake, an understanding should be established and a group needs to be formed regarding the planning and development of the region. For the SLI site permission, 2 agreements need to be approved and signed (one with the FAMC and WC regarding the legal agreement, the other with the Farm Group (FG) regarding land utilization). The FG will organize a meeting with the SLI team to reach an agreement.

b) Land allocation process document – FAMC:

modifications The modifications proposed by the FAMC were accepted because the process now includes the collaboration of all concerned parties.

c) Service Farm issue:

The Farm Group (FG) was unable to resolve this (foreseeable) issue; a decision was taken by the FAMC in 2008. The TDC requested that the FG take a stand on this issue. To do so, they will have a meeting and come up with decisions and/or options as well as plans and estimates (if fencing is required etc.).

Water Regulatory Board

The TDc felt the need to have a 3rd executive for the Water Service and requested the FAMC to revive the Water Regulatory Board that is supposed to appoint executives. A list of “water people” (concerning Water distribution, Water harvesting, Ground water, Desalination, Pipelines, and Water system management) was set up for their feedback.