CS reviews Assembly poll arrangements

Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 20

Chief Secretary VC Pharka today directed nodal officers to review the poll preparedness for ensuing free and fair elections to the state legislative Assembly the date for which is yet to announced by the election commission.

Presiding over a meeting of the nodal officers, Pharka reviewed the progress of various departments which was presented through power point presentation.

Pharka said the nodal officers should equip every polling booth of the state with necessary infrastructure and amenities. He said two volunteers should be engaged at each booth to facilitate the voters in exercising their franchise. It was pointed out in the meeting that postal ballet papers for Vidhan Sabha elections will be transmitted electronically. Pharka asked the authorities concerned to effectively launch Systematic Voters Education and Electorate Participation (SVEEP) up to the last corner in the state.

The Chief Secretary said that adequate manpower be deployed at critical and vulnerable polling stations so as to ensure free and fair elections. He asked the police department to arrange the requisite forces, including Home Guard jawans and para military personnel. The Telecommunication Department was asked to provide uninterrupted Internet and phone signal in all areas of the state. He directed that vulnerable and sensitive points of the state should be equipped with CCTV cameras.