Buildings mushroom near state prisons in Ferozepur, pose threat to security

Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, June 16

Paving the way for rapid urbanisation around various high-security prisons, the cash-strapped state government has reportedly sold over 300 acres of prime land belonging to various jails to generate revenue. But the move is now being seen as counter-productive. Every day, incidents are taking place where mobile phones and other items are being tossed over the prison walls. High-rise SCOs, residential and commercial complexes have come up in the vicinity of the prisons during the past few years.

The escape of three prisoners from the Patiala jail has already set the alarm bells ringing. And if buildings continue to mushroom, more such incidents cannot be ruled out.

As per information, the state government transferred chunks of land to the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) under the Optimum Utilisation of Vacant Government Land (OUVGL) scheme to generate surplus revenue. In Ferozepur, almost 21.80 acres belonging the central jail were transferred to PUDA under the scheme in 2008 following which a lot of residential and commercial hubs have come up near the jail.

Another 22 acres of central jail land in Gurdaspur were transferred to PUDA around the same time. Thereafter, 22.17 acres of land of the central jail in Jalandhar were transferred to PUDA. Around 25.6 acres of jail land in Faridkot were also sold, where Baba Farid University of Health Sciences has come up now. Even in Amristar, almost 93 acres of central jail land have been reportedly transferred to PUDA.

Security officials said any person with sinister designs could easily buy or rent a house or SCO close to the jail premises as PUDA further sold the land through auction to earn revenue for the government. Last year, more than 1,500 mobiles had been seized from various jails in the state due to stringent frisking and enhanced security measures but the incidents continue reportedly due to several buildings and roads being built in the proximity of the prisons.

Jail officials said the security had been compromised with the sale of part of its land under the OUVGL scheme. “The only preventive step can be installation of electric fencing to protect the boundary wall and more CCTV cameras and jammers for which a proposal has already been submitted,” said a senior official.

1,500 mobiles seized last year

Last year, more than 1,500 mobiles had been seized from various jails in the state due to enhanced security measures but the incidents continue reportedly due to several buildings and roads being built in the proximity of the prisons

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