TIRUNELVELI: The Tamil Nadu Prison Administration has sent a proposal for Rs 400 crore to the Centre for modernisation of Central and Sub jails in the state, said Director General of Police (prisons), R Natraj here on Monday.
He told reporters that the Rs 400 crore proposal for phase II included improvement of prisons, installing camera and access control equipment, scanner units, and remote surveillance. Under the first phase of modernisation programme, Rs 100 crore was spent for modernisation of prisons in the State, in last five years.
The phase II funds would be utilised for developing infrastructure, strengthening safety aspects and quarters for jail staff.
While the Centre would bear 75 per cent of the cost, the state would fund the rest. The programme would be completed within five years from the date of commencement, he said. He said close circuit cameras would be installed in all the visitors’ room of the central prisons at a cost of Rs 70 lakh. The installation of cameras would get completed in the next one month.
Regarding the works to be undertaken at Palayamkottai Central Prison, the Director General of Police said, Rs 20 lakh was allotted for strengthening the infrastructure, erection of compound wall, electric fencing, water drainage system and other renovation works.
He said to ease crowding in all Central Prisons, district jails were being established in the State. For the district jail at Thoothukudi, 9 acres land was identified and construction would commence very soon.