Shillong, May 18: The move of the Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home (Jail) Sniawbhalang Dhar to shift the Shillong District Jail to New Shillong Township may face hurdle as the High Court of Meghalaya had earlier rejected the idea of housing jail in a township.
Dhar visited Shillong district jail along with the officials on Thursday.
“We have decided to shift the Shillong district jail from Jail road to New Shillong,” Dhar told reporters.
He said the decision was taken after the urban affairs department agreed to provide 25 acres of land for the construction of the new district jail at the New Shillong Township.
“Apart from providing land, the urban affairs department has also agreed to construct the new district jail,” he added.
Dhar, who is also in-charge of urban affairs department, said in exchange, the land where the district jail is presently located, will be handed over to the urban affairs department.
He said the capacity of the new district jail will be 1,000 unlike the old jail with only 170 inmates.
“Once completed, we will be able to segregate between the convicts and the under trial prisoners,” Dhar said.
The district jail is housing over 464 inmates against the capacity of 175 inmates.
In an earlier order, the high court had said it would not be wise to set up jail in a township.
The court wanted the government to reconsider the decision.
Building at MTC site
Dhar also visited the construction site of the Shillong Business cum Tourism and Cultural Centre at the Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) land at Jail Road
“I am happy to see the smooth implementation of the project,” he said.
He said, “I will try to make sure that within two years, this building will be handed over to the government.”
