Kerala’s lone district with no jail, stopped functioning in 2018

PATHANAMTHITTA: The construction of the second phase of the district jail has not yet started even three years after the completion of the first phase. An amount of Rs 55 crore was spent for the first floor. An estimate of Rs 12.5 crore has been prepared for the construction of the second and third floors. However, only Rs 7 crore was allocated for the remaining work. This led to a crisis. Initially, a total estimate of Rs 13.8 crore was prepared.

Jail stopped functioning in 2018
The functioning of the district jail stopped in August 2018 for the construction of the building. The prisoners were shifted to Mavelikkara, Kollam, Kottarakkara and Thiruvananthapuram jails. The foundation stone of the new building was laid in March 2019, months after the jail ceased operations. The first plan had to be modified to build a sewage plant due to the rocky land.

Double cell 19, single 17
There are 19 double cells and 17 single cells on three floors. Ten people can be accommodated in a double cell and five people in a single cell. Those remanded from 13 courts are housed here.

Jail building is in 82 cents
Area: 5269 sq mtrs
PWD Buildings Division is in charge of the construction
The new building can house 180 prisoners at a time

Work stopped due to lack of funds
Estimates were revised for the construction of the second phase, but the work delayed due to lack of funds. However, in last April, the technical permission was obtained and the tender proceedings started. It is in this context that the election code of conduct came into being.
The delay is due to the existence of the code of conduct. Attempts are being made to complete the construction quickly.
Jail authorities