Mugu prison remains unused 12 years after construction

By Harikrishna Aidi, Mugu, Aug.1: A district prison building constructed at Thapalchaur in Gamgadhi, the headquarters of Mugu, has remained unused even 12 years after its construction. The building, constructed at a cost of millions of rupees, has remained idle due to the lack of essential infrastructure, including security posts and perimeter fencing.

The failure to bring the prison into operation has forced authorities to transfer detainees remanded in custody by the court to prisons in other districts. This has placed an additional financial burden on the state and created difficulties for detainees, their families and security personnel.

According to Hasta Bahadur Bham, chief of the District Prison Office, Mugu, construction of the prison building began in 2014 with a budget of Rs. 35 million provided by the Intensive Urban and Building Construction Project Office, Jumla. Although the main construction work has been completed, the prison cannot be brought into operation due to the lack of security posts, perimeter fencing and other essential structures, he said.