State struggles to identify land for new Central Prison amid rising overcrowding

The Hindu

5 days ago

The State government is facing an uphill task in identifying nearly 50 acres of land in Central Kerala for the proposed Central Prison, as the existing correctional facilities buckle under severe overcrowding.
Kerala's 57 prisons, designed to accommodate 7,828 inmates, presently house 10,832 prisoners, over 38% above capacity. The situation is particularly dire in the Central Prisons at Poojappura, Viyyur and Kannur, which hold 3,839 prisoners, far exceeding their combined capacity of 2,228.
The urgency for a modern correctional facility intensified following the recent escape of Govindachamy, a convict in a high-profile rape and murder case. Following the incident, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan convened a high-level meeting that resolved to identify a suitable land in Kottayam or Pathanamthitta for a new Central Prison.
However, multiple requests by the Kerala Prisons and Correctional Services to the District Collectors of Kottayam, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta in the recent past have yielded little progress, largely due to the unavailability of sufficient tracts of land. Dense population clusters and legal complexities around acquiring plantation land have created significant roadblocks, sources said.
Suitable sites
A proposed site at Manimala in Kottayam, which involves vacant government land, was submitted to the State government, but the plan has since stalled. It is believed that the future expansion plans in Vagamon, a tourist destination just 50 km away, may have contributed to the lack of momentum.
The Kerala Jail Reforms Committee Report 2017, authored by former Director General of Prisons Alexander Jacob, had recommended setting up a Central Prison in Ernakulam or Muttom in Thodupuzha.
In addition to a new Central Prison, a senior official has suggested that the government also explore vertical expansion of existing facilities to relieve pressure, given the limited horizontal space available.
Overcrowding has led to deteriorating living conditions and rising tensions among inmates. Besides, the situation has forced authorities to lodge two or more prisoners in cells meant for solitary confinement. Considering these spaces are reserved for hardened or mentally unstable inmates, such arrangements are feared to pose safety risks to others.