Digvijaya Singh, chair of Parliamentary panel reviews Auroville projects

Amid a controversy over the proposed diversion of lands of Annapurna Farm in Auroville for a sustainability campus project in collaboration with the IIT-Madras, Digvijaya Singh, Rajya Sabha MP and chairman of the The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, conducted an official visit to the international township to assess the development initiatives.

An Auroville press note said during the visit, the Parliamentary panel chairman received detailed briefings on current development projects that have been expedited during the term of Jayanti S. Ravi Auroville Foundation Secretary.

He also visited the Annapurna Farm, that is at the centre of a row, with a section of residents opposing the plan to repurpose about 100 acres of land to build a sustainability campus of the IIT-M.

Mr. Singh met senior officials and key stakeholders of the international township including G. Seetharaman, OSD, Auroville Foundation, members of the Auroville Town Development Council (ATDC), Working Committee members, Admissions & Terminations Scrutinising Committee (ATSC) members and representatives from official working groups of Auroville.

The projects reviewed included the Crown Road, a major connectivity enhancement initiative, Matrimandir Lake development, a water body restoration project, and ATSC initiatives for adding new members in alignment with The Mother’s vision of accommodating 50,000 residents. The progress of various educational initiatives of Sri Aurobindo International Institute of Educational Research (SAIIER) were also evaluated.

On the Matrimandir Lake project, Mr. Singh was provided an overview of the current development status, existing constraints, and strategic approaches being implemented to overcome project challenges. Mr. Singh also spent time inside the Matrimandir, the press note said.