Land identified in Bellathi village to relocate prison

Coimbatore: Revenue department officials and Coimbatore Central Prison authorities are scouting for land in Bellathi village in Karamadai to shift the prison from the city.
The revenue department has identified 95 acres in the village to construct a new prison, an official said. “Prison authorities want 150 to 180 acres. Land is available in the village and we can acquire more.”
Details of the proposed land will soon be sent to the commissionerate of land administration, said the official. “But all prison officials are not that happy to relocate the prison 30km away from the city, as the land is far away from the integrated court complex and the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH).”
Chief minister M K Stalin had announced relocation of the Coimbatore Central Prison in November, 2021, a senior official with the prison department said. “The district administration was ready to allot 200 acres adjacent to the Vellalore dump yard. But we rejected the offer. We were interested in 100 acres on Bharathiar University premises, but the administration refused due to the presence of the university and Government Law College in the locality. The administration also refused to allot 100 acres on Avinashi Road.”
Shifting the prison to the village may create a number of administrative implications, the official said. “Cops will have to travel 30km to remand prisoners in judicial custody. Sick prisoners have to be taken to CMCH, which is again 30km away. Relatives of prisoners have to travel 30km to meet them.”