BHOPAL: The incident of SIMI under trials fleeing from the Bhopal Central Jail on the night of Deepawali has led to the jail department, which is generally not given much priority in government, getting importance. Jail department has forwarded work proposals worth Rs 35 crore to its minister Kusum Mehadale. The amount would be used for buying vehicles, walkie-talkies and other security devices for jails. New closed circuit TVs (CCTVs) will be installed in jails while those which are out of order would be repaired.
Some constructions would also be made. Proposals are being prepared to get advanced devices installed for enhancing security on jail premises. Preparations are on to modernise Bhopal and Indore Central Jails.
The height of boundary walls of the jails is proposed to be raised. The old walls would be strengthened.
According to sources, chief secretary BP Singh has instructed the finance department to clear the proposals of jail department without any delay. Jail department had sought exemption from 10 per cent cuts in budgetary allocations in the last quarter, which has also been given.
As per one senior jail official, all proposals of the department have been asked to be presented for approval following the incident of jail break by SIMI undertrials.
