The elevated green strip adjoining the Presidency jail wall. Picture by Sanjoy Ghosh

A 2ft-high strip of green created along the boundary wall of Presidency jail to please the chief minister’s eye may make it easier for prisoners to escape, fear jail officers.

The two under-trials who fled the jail on Tuesday (and were at large till late on Wednesday) did not jump on the shrubs planted on the green patch to escape.

The patch — on a concrete platform painted in Mamata Banerjee’s favourite colour combination, blue and white — was built at least three months ago by the civic body with permission from the jail department as part of a beautification drive between Gopalnagar in Alipore and DL Khan Road. The chief minister takes the route from her Kalighat home to Writers’ Buildings.

“The chief minister likes both green and the combination of blue and white. This project is a combination of both,” said an officer of the jail department.

The project is also a violation of the jail code (rule number 1188) followed by jails across the state.

“According to the rule, there cannot be any construction within 4.88 metres of the exterior of a jail wall. If there is a construction, another wall has to be erected outside it,” said a senior jail officer.

The rule also mentions that the minimum height of both the interior and exterior side of the wall of a correctional home should not be less than 18 feet.

“In this case, the project has reduced the exterior height of the wall. The area outside the jail wall should be hard so that if a prisoner tries to jump from the top, his fall is difficult,” he added.

Inspector general of police (prisons) Ranveer Kumar was silent on the allegation of rule violation.

“The state correctional services department gave permission to the Calcutta Municipal Corporation for the project after a joint inspection attended by representatives of the correctional services, civic body and the urban development department. Since the beautification has been done outside the wall, I do not think security has been compromised,” said Kumar.

His department, however, has asked the public works department to raise the height of the wall by 2ft. When that will happen is still not clear.

“The height of the Presidency jail wall will be raised by 2ft and some constructions inside that might help inmates escape will be demolished,” said an officer.

When asked if the beautification project had violated the jail code, the civic authorities claimed ignorance.

“The project got all the necessary clearances. One should visit the place and see how beautiful the road looks now,” said mayor Sovan Chatterjee.