ALAPPUZHA: The state government's Nirbhaya project is now eying to take over dysfunctional Gender Park of the district panchayat constructed spending Rs 6 crore to ensure women safety in 2015.
Nirbhaya aims at creating rehabilitation facilities to help the rape survivors to heal, recover, empower and reintegrate back into society.
G. Venugopal, president, district panchayat, said Nirbhaya had approached them officially, but the panchayat had not taken a decision as it wanted exclusive powers on it since it funded the entire project.
He said there were some technical problems with making it operational which have almost ended now.
The work on Gender Park with 50 well-equipped rooms conceived in January 2012 earmarking funds completed after three years of mud-slinging.
CPI leader and then district panchayat vice-president Thampi Mettuthara alleged corruption by the then president and now Kayamkulam legislator U. Prathibha Hari in buying the 60 cents of land and 4300-sq ft building spending Rs 6 crore from a private party exceeding the district collector's estimated rate. The row came to an end after the intervention of state leaders. The Park also has a recreation club, well-equipped library and internet service.
The project had also envisioned a catering service on the sidelines to serve guests the taste of Kerala food especially Kuttanadan cuisines popular among tourists.
