KURUKSHETRA: Under the initiative of reformation and integration among the inmates for their welfare, the first petrol, diesel, and CNG (compressed natural gas) filling station in Haryana was inaugurated as a pilot project on the premises of the district jail at Kurukshetra on Tuesday.
The filling station has been established by Haryana's jail department in cooperation with Indian Oil Corporation (IOC).
The filling station dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the independence was inaugurated by Haryana jail minister Ranjit Singh in the presence of Haryana director general of prisons Mohammad Akil, Thanesar MLA Subhash Sudha, political secretary to Haryana CM Krishan Kumar Bedi, prisons IG Jagjit Singh, Kurukshetra SP Anshu Singla and other officials including IOC Delhi and Haryana state managing director Shyam Vohra.
Minister Ranjit Singh said, "After the success of this pilot project filling station, such petrol pumps would be developed in 10 more jails of Haryana. The income generated from this filling station will be deposited in the jail's prison fund and facilities would be provided to the inmates with this fund."
The jail minister said IOC has spent about Rs 2.10 crore on this pump and the company will give Rs 51,000 per month to the jail administration as a lease amount for the land.
"The jail administration will pay for the oil and this pump will be operated by the inmates with good conduct records in the jail. It will be operated from 7 am to 7 pm every day. The location of this pump is good and it is expected that it would generate an income of about Rs 10 lakh in sixth months", said Ranjit Singh.
The jail minister and DG prisons became the first customers of this pump and both got their vehicle's tanks filled from here respectively.
Haryana DG prisons Mohammad Akil said it is a big step to start a petrol pump with the support of IOC in the jail.
"This will benefit the jail and prisoners with good conduct will be deputed to operate this pump. On their return to jail in the evening after duty, the inmates will share their experiences with other inmates and they will get the motivation to become good citizens. This will also give relief to inmates from loneliness and depression", said Akil.
