The Jail Department authorities are yet to inform the Archaelogical Survey of India (ASI) about the proposed shifting of the special sub-jail from the Fort here.
Although Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is to inaugurate the newly constructed district jail complex at Manthakad near Malampuzha on Tuesday, the Jail authorities are yet to finalise the shifting of the special sub-jail from the Fort here.
Decrepit building
The functioning of the special sub-jail and the District Taluk Supply Office at a decrepit building from the British era inside the Fort has prevented the ASI, which is the custodian of the Fort, from renovating and conserving the buildings.
The demand for shifting of the jail and the supply office to new buildings had increased in recent years.
The new jail complex near Malampuzha has many facilities, including a staff room, a visitors’ room and a spacious dining room.
Although there were reports that the special sub-jail would soon be shifted to Malampuzha with the inauguration of the jail complex, jail officials said that they were yet to take a decision about the shifting.
The new jail complex near Malampuzha constructed at a cost of ₹16.92 crore will have 24 cells.
The Central Finance Commission had sanctioned ₹154 crore for modernizing the jails in the State, out of which ₹11.52 crore was spent for the Malampuzha complex.
Jail officials said that each cell would have a washbasin and a toilet.
The jail will have a seven-foot high wall.
The jail has been set up at 10 acre land given by the Department of Irrigation, officials said.
ASI officials said that they would start renovating the building once the special sub-jail is shifted out of the Fort.
