DW BUREAU / PATIALA Nabha's nearly 98-year-old high security jail will be rebuilt and renovated at a cost of Rs 25 crore. This was stated by the Punjab Minister for Co-operation and Jails Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa who was here today to finalise the proposal of renovation and reconstruction. He said that at present the jail has 40 cells and barracks and can accommodate about 450 inmates but now it is proposed to construct 60 new cells in place of the old barracks, bringing about 250 dreaded prisoners as Maximum Security Jail has to house only such type of criminals. Accompanied by ADGP Jails Praveen Kumar Sinha, Principal Secretary Jails D K Tewari, IG Roop Kumar, Senior Architect Asha Mahajan and Chief Engineer Ranjodh Singh from Punjab Police Housing Corporation and other senior officials of the Jail department were also present. After this Randhawa also visited Patiala Central Jail and reviewed the security of the jail here. He also tasted the food prepared for the inmates, reviewed the items prepared by the inmates and appreciated there keen interest being shown in these things. Randhawa while visiting this heritage jail in Nabha, further said that the Punjab government under the leadership of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had brought a revolutionary jail reforms and besides ending to the hooliganism in the jails. He said that during the war of Independence, late Prime Minister Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru and freedom fighters like K Santanam, who were detained by the Britishers, were also detained here in this high security jail in Nabha. He said that the first centenary of the Jail was coming in 2023 and in view of its rich historic importance, we have decided to maintain its old look. He further said that earlier it was proposed to relocate this jail from here at a cost of about Rs 110 crore but the government saved Rs 85 crore and implemented the proposal of reconstruction and renovation of the same jail. (editor@dailyworld.in)