the goan I network
VASCO
Transferring undertrials and prisoners from various parts of the State to the Colvale jail for over a year had been difficult and time-consuming for the Police Escort Cell (PEC) staff and they had hoped that the centrally located Sada sub-jail would be renovated and reused within a short time.
But their hopes could be dashed with the PWD authorities indicating that the sub-jail at Sada would have to be demolished and rebuilt.
The sub-jail at Sada was vacated on January 25, 2017, and all inmates were transferred to the new jail at Colvale after a portion of the ceiling collapsed and structure became weak, posing danger to inmates and staff.
Accordingly, a Non Destructive Test (NDT) test was conducted to ascertain the stability of the building and to verify if the jail could be renovated or if demolition was imminent.
According to reports from PWD department, the NDT results have proved that the sub-jail cannot be renovated, but would have to be demolished and rebuilt again.
Speaking to the media, Vasco PWD AE A D Nagarchi said the NDT test reports have been submitted for further proceedings.
“We have submitted the NDT reports to our department seniors to be given to the IG Prisons. Now, an estimate will be drawn and the jail will be demolished.”
“If the IG Prisons feels the need to rebuild a jail, then the chief architect will draw a plan and after due approvals, a tender will be floated by PWD and the jail could be rebuilt again,” said Nagarchi.
The demolition of the Sada sub-jail has meant continued inconvenience to the PEC.
The Sada sub-jail was placed centrally in Sada-Vasco and the PEC (especially South Goa) had found it easier to transport undertrials and prisoners for medical examination to GMC or to present them before different courts in South Goa for police formalities.
“We have to travel long distance to take prisoners to the new jail at Colvale. There are cases where we have had to transport prisoners from places like Canacona and Sanguem all the way to Colvale,” said a source at the PEC.
“Sometimes while producing the accused before court for formalities, we have been delayed from Colvale to different courts in South Goa. Quite often judges have deferred those hearings due to such delays, wasting time, fuel costs and effort.”
“The Sada jail was far more convenient to handle undertrials,” the source added.
