Chief Secretary S. Roy said here today that as per the instructions of the Election Commission of India all preventive measures have been taken to ensure free, fair, peaceful and transparent elections in the State. He said that Model Code of Conduct was also being implemented effectively.
Roy was presiding over the meeting to review the various arrangements and preparedness of the Government for the ensuing Vidhan Sabha Elections-2012. Arrangements made by various departments including Home, PWD, GAD, Personnel, Education, Police, Civil Defence and Home Guard, Excise and Taxation, HRTC, M.P.P. and Power were reviewed in the meeting.
Chief Secretary said that Helicopter Services would be provided in the far-flung and snow-bound areas of the State for air-lifting Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), polling personnel and polling materials before and after the poll. He said that Polling Party alongwith polling materials and EVMs would be airlifted to a land-locked hamlet of Baijnath Assembly Constituency, “Bara Bhangal” on 2nd November, 2012 and Bara-Bangal to Baijnath on 4th November, 2012. Bara-Bhangal area is situated at the height of 9000 Ft. and 45 electors will exercise their franchise, including 26 male electors and 19 female electors. Similarly, helicopter services would be provided from Pangi to Kullu, Keylong to Kullu and Kaza to Kullu on 5th November, 2012, he added. He informed that 2-Bharmour (ST) Assembly Constituency had 32 Polling Stations in Pangi segment and 21-Lauhal Spiti (ST) AC had 89 Polling Stations out of which 28 in Spiti areas.
Roy said that that Police Control Room was set up in Police Headquarter for monitoring different election related activities and sending daily reports as required. He said that 140 identified Naka Points were set-up to check the illegal liquor and other illegal material besides 90 flying squads were also monitoring the illegal carrying of cash or liquor or any other suspicious items. In addition to it 76 Control Rooms were working round the clock throughout the State for providing timely information from various parts of the State to the State Headquarter. He also revealed that 131 shadow areas where mobile services were not functioning; wireless sets had been made operational for better communication system.
Chief Electoral Officer Narender Chauhan said that elaborate security arrangements were also being made to maintain law and order in the State during poll process. He asked all the officers to ensure all the arrangements effectively so that free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections could be delivered. He said that 60 companies of Central Para Military Forces including 25 Coys of ITBP, 15 Coys of SSB, 10 Coys of CRPF and 10 Coys of BSF were deployed for completion of peaceful, free and fair elections in the State.
He said that 1365 HRTC Buses would be deployed during Elections for the 68 Assembly Constituencies in the State. He directed the PWD and Transport Authorities to ensure uninterrupted vehicular traffic so that Polling Parties could reach their destinations timely. He said that dry day had been declared by the Excise and Taxation Commissioner for 2nd November, 2012 from 5PM to 4th November, 2012 upto 5PM and counting day i.e. 20th December, 2012. He said that necessary directions had been given to the Education Department to shelter (extra rooms) for electors at polling stations (School buildings) for taking rest on poll day. He said that proper arrangements of drinking water to electors had been made on poll day by water carriers. He further said that Media Centers at State and District Headquarters were working.
Narender Chauhan said that 7253 Polling Stations had been set up in the State. He said that 1317 Polling Stations have been declared Sensitive and 763 polling Stations have been declared Hypersensitive to ensure free and fair elections in the State. He said that 4608359 electors would cast their vote in 68 Assembly Constituencies of the State on 4th November, 2012. It includes 4533713 general electors and 74646 Service electors. Elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections in the State. I.D. Bhandari, DGP, Manisha Nanda, Principal Secretary, Home, senior officers of the State Government also attended the meeting.
