137 an experienced American city administrator to run the city: under state law the Corporation can assume many of the functions of the state, though it does not have police powers and cannot levy taxes. However, it employs private security guards and raises funds from home sales, rentals and revenue-sharing agreements with businesses. Most big development projects are controversial, and Lavasa is no exception. The biggest criticism is how it can claim to represent a model of urban development for India, where 830 million people live in poverty, when it caters mainly to the rich. The least expensive apartments in Lavasa are out of reach for most middle-class Indians. The developers talk of starter homes and affordable rental apartments but then worry that they’ll deteriorate into slums. There is much talk of sustainability and ‘bio-mimicry’ (copying nature), yet Lavasa feels strikingly inauthentic. Even its name is artificial, a meaningless word dreamed up by an American branding firm. Gulabchand argues that India’s need for new cities is so pressing that the country can’t stand by until they evolve on their own. “Why should we look to the past? India is a young society. This is an experiment. We may not get a perfect city,” he says, “but this is a model for a more vibrant, inclusive, greener place in the future, one that still has soul.” 0 Which features of Lavasa give it an Italian appearance? buildings 1 What aspect about managing urban areas has barely existed in India so far? 2 What is the projected population of Lavasa? 3 What kind of construction work is the city’s founder famous for? 4 What novel idea does Lavasa bring to India? (Give one answer.) 5 What did the potential residents of Lavasa expect to see? 6 What is unusual about the administration of Lavasa? 7 What is the main objection to Lavasa? 8 According to Gulabchand, what can India no longer wait for cities to do? (2) Look for a (large) number to answer this question. (4) This question is not answered in the paragraph referring to the ‘new India’. (5) You wouldn’t expect to see a septic tank – it would be underground. (7) An objection is a kind of strong criticism, look for a paragraph dealing with that. Help Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
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