Imaging systems for Jails a non-starter, Rs 13 lakhs wasted on defunct systems

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Oct 28: While the state government is undertaking various projects and introducing latest technologies to revamp and keep police force fit for fighting the insurgency in the state, but there are many projects already taken by the police which because of unplanned acquisition and planning has cost state exchequer lakhs of rupees.


According to sources, in 2002, the Director General (Prisons) in order to automate the attendance system in jails for recording the attendance of prisoners and jail staff and also to prevent entry and exit of un-authorised persons from the premises, had ordered the purchase of three Imaging Identification System (IIS) and their allied accessories at a estimated cost of Rs 13.06 lakhs from a Jammu based firm. But within its warranty period all of them become non-functional owning to poor maintenance and lack of trained persons.


These sophisticated imaging systems were installed in the district jails situated at Poonch, Rajouri and at sub-Jail Hiranagar which house number of dreaded foreign and local terrorists.


Sources say that after the systems become non-functional the officials brought in the engineers from the company in March and July 2003, but even after the repairs carried out by them, the systems did not work and are still not working.


Sources further said that the working of these systems at district jail Rajouri and sub-district jail Hiranagar was unsatisfactory soon after the installation and the machine installed in Poonch jail could not be put to use because of non-availability of trained operator.


It is important to mention here that, even the Controller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in its Audit scrutiny in January 2006 had revealed that the department has not made either the purchases in proper manner nor had they any trained staff for maintenance of the system.


The then Director (Prisons) had told the CAG that the systems would be repaired when trained persons will be available for handling of these imagers. But the question still remains why the purchases were made overlooking the facilities available. But still they have not been made functional in the state.