In a coordinated effort between the Ministries of Public Works and Justice and Security, the Provincial Government continues with the construction of four new isolation wings at Penitentiary Unit No. 1 "Dr. César Raúl Tabares" in Coronda, San Jerónimo department. The provincial investment in this project exceeds 4.9 billion pesos.
Regarding the progress of this work, the Minister of Public Works, Lisandro Enrico, specified that "out of a total of 72 isolation cells, we have already assembled 66. This project is part of the historic investment that Governor Maximiliano Pullaro is carrying out in prison infrastructure."
The Ministry of Public Works has indicated that the project involves the construction of four rows of pavilions, each with 18 cells. This represents more than 1,300 square metres of cells in the heart of Coronda Prison, each with its own courtyard and connected by galleries. These courtyards also have an upper fence with electro-welded mesh to prevent objects from being thrown over.
Progress
Regarding the progress of the work, the Secretary of Public Works, Marcelo Pascualón, explained that "it is 60% complete and wing A is already fully assembled. Wing B is also almost completely assembled, while wings C and D are at a significant stage of completion."
For her part, the Secretary for Criminal Affairs, Lucía Masneri, recalled that "the Coronda prison did not have isolation wings, but it did have some structural adaptations," and stressed that "precisely, this work contributes to the security of the prison, allowing those who do not behave in accordance with the rules, both inside and outside the prison, and who continue to attempt to commit crimes from within the prison units, to be subject to special security measures such as those offered by these new wings, which also respect the layout of the building, which is divided between north and south."
The sections are composed of precast reinforced concrete panels, on top of which slabs are laid to serve as a secure upper closure.
In addition, the cells will have reinforced concrete beds; vandal-proof stainless-steel toilet and sink kits; showers; and shelves. In turn, the courtyard will have a precast concrete washbasin with a service tap.
Along with the assembly of the panels, the joint venture in charge of the work (formed by the companies Mundo Construcciones and De Paoli & Trosce) is also carrying out electrical and low-voltage installations, interior plastering in the cells, installation of sanitary fixtures, and work on the lightweight roofing of the pavilions.
Parallel work and further improvements for the Prison Unit
Alongside the construction of the four new wings, the Government of Santa Fe also carried out works at the Coronda Prison Unit to provide water services.
The work consisted of installing two new tanks, each with a storage capacity of 100,000 litres, to replace tanks that were in an advanced state of deterioration.
Along with the new tanks, a 150,000-litre underground cistern was installed to ensure that visibility was not obstructed for security and surveillance purposes. A new machine room was also built in the same area to house the pumping system equipment.
Two wells with submersible pumps and a pumping system were also installed to pump water from the cistern to the new elevated tanks.
The operation of the sanitary water facilities for cleaning and toilet sewage disposal depends on this new water supply system. In addition to storing and distributing untreated water to the entire prison unit, the new tank system supplies water to the prison's generator cooling system.
The provincial government invested nearly one billion pesos in this water supply project as part of a policy decision to improve prison infrastructure throughout the province of Santa Fe.
