The state government faces a task uphill to identify nearly 50 hectares of land in Central Keraral for the proposed central prison, because existing remedies are connected with serious overfill.
57 Keraly prisoners, which are designed to take 7,828 prisoners, currently accommodate 10,832 prisoners, more than 38% above the capacity. The situation is especially terrible in central prisons in Poojappura, Viyyur and Kannur, which holds 3,839 prisoners, which far exceeds their combined capacity of 2 228.
The urgency for a modern corrective facility has intensified after the recent escape of Govindachama, convicted of a high -raped rape and murder. After the incident, the chairman of Minister Pinarayi Vijayan convened a high -level meeting that decided to identify a suitable country in Kottayam or Pathanamthitta for a new central prison.
However, more requests for Keral’s prison and remedial services to district collectors Kottayam, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitt have brought little progress in the recent past, largely due to the unavailability of sufficient land tracts. The dense population clusters and the legal complexities around the acquisition of plantation soil have created significant roadblocks, the sources said.
Suitable sites
The proposed place in the manimala in Kottayam, which includes free government land, was submitted to the State Government, but the plan has stopped since then. It is assumed that future expansion plans in vagamon, a tourist destination just 50 km away, could contribute to the lack of dynamics.
The report of the Keral 2017 prison Committee, written by the former CEO of Prison Alexander Jacob, recommended that you set up central prison in Ernacula or Muttom in Thodupuzha.
In addition to the new central prison, a higher official proposed that the government also explore the vertical expansion of existing facilities to alleviate pressure, due to the limited horizontal space.
The overfill led to the deterioration of the living conditions and the increasing tension between the prisoners. In addition, the situation forced the authorities to submit two or more prisoners in the cells intended for loneliness. Since these premises are reserved for tempered or mentally unstable prisoners, such an arrangement is concerned that they pose safety risks for others.
Published – 11 August 2025 20:32
