Question

Write a short note on Auroville a sustainable city.

Answer 1

1. Auroville (City of Dawn) is an “experimental” township in Viluppuram district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India, near Puducherry in South India. It was founded in 1968 by Mirra Alfassa (since her definitive settling in India called “The Mother”) and designed by architect Roger Anger.
2. In 1968 when the plan for the international spiritual community was unveiled, the chosen site was a barren plateau surrounded by impoverished villages in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Given the dry and over-cultivated land for the future settlement, innovative planning and design was required to convert the land into the Aurovillian dream.
3. Large scale reforestation, water harvesting, ground water recharge, soil improvement was carried out. the city area with a radius of 1.25 km is surrounded by a green belt. It has a zone of organic farms, orchards, dairies, forest and wildlife areas.
4. Renewable energy like solar and wind energy is used for various purposes and battery operated cars are used as well. Auroville stands as a successful example of transformation of wasteland into a vibrant ecosystem.