PATIALA/NABHA, PATIALA: Nabha's nearly 98-year-old high security jail will be rebuilt and renovated at a cost of Rs 25 crore. This was stated by the Punjab Minister for Co-operation and Jails, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa while he was here to finalise the proposal of renovation and reconstruction. He said that at present the jail has 40 cells and barracks and can accommodate about 450 inmates but now it is proposed to construct 60 new cells in place of the old barracks, bringing about 250 dreaded prisoners as Maximum Security Jail has to house only such type of criminals.
Accompanied by ADGP Jails Mr Praveen Kumar Sinha, Principal Secretary Jails Mr D K Tewari, I G Roop Kumar, Senior Architect Ms Asha Mahajan and Chief Engineer Ranjodh Singh from Punjab Police Housing Corporation and other senior officials of the jail department were also present. After this Mr Randhawa also visited Patiala Central Jail and reviewed the security of the jail here. He also tasted the food prepared for the inmates, reviewed the items prepared by the inmates and appreciated there keen interest being shown in these things.
Jail Minister Mr Randhawa while visiting this heritage jail in Nabha, further said that the Punjab government under the leadership of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had brought a revolutionary jail reforms and besides ending to the hooliganism in the jails.
Mr Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said that during the war of independence, late Prime Minister Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru and Freedom fighters like K Santanam, who were detained by the Britishers, were also detained here in this high security jail in Nabha. He said that the first centenary of the Jail was coming in 2023 and in view of its rich historic importance, we have decided to maintain its old look.
He further said that earlier it was proposed to relocate this jail from here at a cost of about Rs 110 crore but the government saved Rs 85 crore and implemented the proposal of reconstruction and renovation of the same jail.
The Jail Minister further said that the Punjab Police Housing Corporation had proposed the new administrative block at the entrance besides new kitchen, hospital, factory, canteen and office of Chakar Hawildar with 60 more cells to existing 40 cells.
Interacted with the media, Mr Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said that the Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has been acknowledging and endorsing whole heartedly, his initiatives suggested for improvement in existing Jail infrastructure.
On a query being raised regarding the smuggling of mobiles in jails, Mr Randhawa said that jammers could not succeed with the switching technology from 3G to 4G, 4G to 5G and we are working on some alternate techniques being used at Delhi’s Mandoli Jail, Punjab’s Kapurthala, Bathinda and Patiala jails that are under experiment. Following the success of the new experiments and getting nod from the Government of India, it would be implemented in all the jails. The Jail Minister further said that body X-ray machines worth Rs. 2 crore each would be installed in the jails to check the influx of illegal items inside the jails.
Mr. Shivraj Singh Nandgarh, Superintendent, Patiala Jail, Ramandeep Singh Bhangu, Superintendent, Nabha Jail, SDM Nabha Kala Ram Kansal, were also present on the occasion, DSP Rajesh Chibber, Nabha and other officials were present.