The Delhi Government has intensified its efforts to complete the construction of Mandoli jail as that would help the Delhi Prisons authorities to decongest the Central jail of Tihar. Chief Secretary Deepak Mohan Spolia inspected the progress of Mandoli jail on Sunday and said that the jail was nearing completion and it will be soon made operational.
The Chief Secretary while inspecting the jail complex directed the Secretary (PWD) to speed up the construction work and ensure early completion in all respects. He asked him to take up the issues relating to various departments and agencies of the Government.
“Mandoli Jail should be commissioned as early as possible viewing the position of Central Jail, Tihar as it is overcrowded with about 12,000 prisoners as against its capacity of housing 6,000 prisoners, which is cause of concern”, Spolia said.
DG (Prisons) Alok Verma who accompanied the Chief Secretary during the review visit told him that the issue has been taken up with Chairman, Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB) for early recruitment of 747 posts of different categories requisitioned for jail administration.
Spolia was also informed that the Mandoli Jail is being constructed at a piece of land measuring to 68 acres and the building of jail will be state-of-art building as finalised and approved by the competent authorities.
He said that Mandoli Jail has provision of six jails in its sprawling complex. Apart from this, there will be a provision for keeping the high security prisoners in Mandoli Jail. It will have the capacity of 3,750 prisoners. It will be commissioned by end of December this year. The Chief Secretary asked his officials to take up the work seriously as he will be visiting the construction site in next 30 days.
Talking about further expansion plans for Delhi Prisons, the Chief Secretary said that the Government has planned to open jails in Baprola, Narela apart from the jail in Mandoli. Tihar Jail has nine jails in its complex while Rohini Jail has three jails. For opening a new jail in Baprola land will be acquired in correspondence with land and Building Department and soon after an Open Jail will be opened without bars for housing the prisoners.
The objective of Open Jail will be to mould the thinking of the prisoners towards positive activities by reposing trust in them to enable their re-socialisation in the society after release from the prison.
The treatment of Open Prisoner is extended only to convict the prisoners with good prison conduct and who are physically and mentally fit, willing to do hard work, as prescribed for them. He further added that for construction of a jail in Narela, the land has been acquired in village Tikri Khurd and the payment of the same has been made. The construction work will be started soon after completing the formalities.