Revamped building to more manpower: Panel’s advice ahead of change of guard at Lampur Detention Centre

In December, the MHA had suggested that the overall charge of the detention centre should be given to the Home Department under which the prisons in Delhi also fall. The reason behind the move was the similarity in the nature of work and a more streamlined approach.

Currently, the Lampur Detention Centre is run by the Social Welfare Department of the Delhi government, along with other agencies such as the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) and the Central Reserve Paramilitary Force (CRPF), which is in charge of the security of the premises.

Once the Home Department decides on the recommendations, the process to officially handover the charge of the detention centre to the prison administration will begin. Senior officials said it will be decided in the coming months if the handover will begin first, or the execution of the recommendations.

“We made some recommendations about the state of the building, allocation of funds, and training of officials since our men are trained as per Delhi Prison rules and for prisoners. The sewers are choked and the drainage system needs to be improved. Technology is another aspect that we are looking into,” said an official who is part of the committee. The official added that the work would approximately take three-four months.

The six-member committee includes an official each from the Delhi Prisons, FRRO, Social Welfare Department, Home Department and Public Works Department (PWD).

At present, there are 209 detainees at the centre, including Bangladeshis, Nigerians and some Pakistanis. The centre is spread over an area of 18.5 acres. It was initially a beggar’s home which was converted into a detention centre. The building is in a dilapidated condition and is approximately 50 years old.

Recently,  L-G V K Saxena had also issued directions to the Delhi Police to launch a crackdown on illegal immigrants, especially Bangladeshis and Rohingya.