Hek to review home (jails), seeks report on Nongstoin jail

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 15, 2020

SHILLONG: BJP minister Alexander L Hek will hold a review of the home (jail) department next week.

“I have decided to review the functioning of the department next week,” Hek after taking charge over home (jail) told reporters. Hek is also looking after health & family welfare, home (passport) and arts & culture.

The department was earlier held by former home minister James K Sangma until the recent reshuffling of portfolios among ministers in the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government.

After taking a quick briefing from the Asst IG (Prison), Hek said that there are many suggestions that have come up to further improve the functioning of the department.

Asked, the minister said he is aware of the Shillong district jail being faced with problem of congestion.

“As per report, there is only one room kept as women cell in the jail,” he said. According to him, there is need to deal with the problem as many women have been arrested for their involvement in drug peddling.

Apart from this, there is also issue of hygiene, which needs to be taken care as there is need to ensure that those lodging in the jail are treated like humans, Hek said.

The minister also admitted that there has been delay in the completion of the Nongstoin district jail. “I have enquired and I was told the progress of work is just 25 per cent,” he said while informing that he would soon seek a report from the PWD (buildings) on the delay to complete the project.

Hek also said that he will also review the proposal for the construction of the central jail in Shillong.

According to the CAG report, Shillong district jail is housing over 347 male inmates in 2018 against its capacity intake of 155 while Jowai had 175 against 120.

To ease the overcrowding of Shillong district jail, construction of a new jail at Nongstoin, West Khasi Hills was sanctioned in 2003 at an estimated cost of Rs 6.26 crore and was targeted for completion in 2007.

However,  it was yet to be completed despite the lapse of over 15 years as the State government has not sanctioned the revised estimates for its construction, the CAG had said.