Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram   

Dispute over site for old age home

By N. J. Nair

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Nov. 25. The project of the district panchayat to set up three old age homes has been bogged down by a dispute between the ruling and opposition members over identifying land, it is reliably learnt.

The panchayat has made a budgetary allocation of Rs.1 crore to construct the homes in different parts of the district and prepared a detailed action plan too. Social welfare activities being one of the thrust areas of the local bodies institutions, the project had won acclaim.

The panchayat was planning to set up the homes in two acres, providing enough space for the inmates to move around freely and relax. Hence, the panchayat identified plots in the rural areas. A committee comprising social activists, civic representatives, priests and others was to be formed for the smooth running of the homes.

The vice-president, Anavoor Nagappan, told The Hindu today that the panchayat had decided to form the committee giving due representation to people from different walks of life so that the homes can be run in a professional manner. The plots were identified without any political considerations and there were no disputes in the initial stage. "Despite having a comfortable majority, we took the opposition members into confidence to avoid a controversy,'' he said.

The panchayat identified a plot at Kollayil grama panchayat, another one near Venjaramoodu Junction and yet another one at Pongumoodu in Maranellore grama panchayat. According to Mr.Nagappan, the panchayat committee was not satisfied with the plot identified at Kollayil by the UDF member who represents the division since there was no proper access to the plot.

Still, the details were presented to the District Collector for assessing the land value. The Collector fixed the land value of the plot at Kollayil at Rs. 8,000 for a cent. The grama panchayat has the provision to enhance the rate by 25 per cent. But the District Panchayat committee has decided not to buy the plot unless the local member ensures that there is proper access.

``The home should have all the facilities. If someone falls ill, he has to be hospitalised and in the event of an accident, there should be access for an ambulance to come to the door. An eight-metre wide road is mandatory to any plot purchased for such public purposes. Moreover, the funds allocated for the project cannot be diverted for buying land,'' he said.

The committee decision has created a dent in the smooth relation between the ruling and opposition members and this has affected the pace of the project.

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