Nongstoin district jail awaits fresh sanction

NONGSTOIN: Director General (Prisons) R.P. Agarwal has assured that the construction of the Nongstoin district jail will be completed at the earliest after the sanction of the revised estimate from the State Government.
Agarwal, who inspected the status of the construction of the jail at Phodkynthei in Nongstoin on Tuesday, told media persons work was delayed since 2007 as the revised estimate was not sanctioned because of financial constraints. “The department will ensure that the jail is completed at the earliest and within the estimated revised budget,” the DG (Prisons) said.
Meanwhile, during the visit it also came to light that some of the already complete structures were beginning to get damaged.
K K Mawa, Superintendent of PWD (Building) told that the revised estimate for the project was sent to the Government along with the revised estimate of Nongpoh District Jail few years back and while the Nongpoh District Jail has already become functional, the one in Nongstoin was yet to be complete.
The Government had earmarked Rs 6.25 crore on December 20, 2003, for the construction of the Nongstoin District jail on 10.35 acres of land in Photkynthei and it was scheduled to be completed in five years time, but the work is pending since 2007.
The delay in the completion of the Nongstoin district jail led to overcrowding of the Shillong District Jail as under trial prisoners (UTPs) as well as convicts from West Khasi Hills had to be accommodated there due to lack of space.