The Hindu : New Delhi News : Poll preparedness reviewed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 30, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Poll preparedness reviewed

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, APRIL 29. The Delhi Chief Secretary, Shailaja Chandra, today reviewed the Administration's preparedness for the May 10 Lok Sabha elections in the Capital along with the Chief Electoral Officer for Delhi, Arun Goyal, and other senior officials. During the meeting, Ms. Chandra is understood to have asked the officials to strictly follow the various directions of the Election Commission.

She specifically asked the officials to ensure that there were ramps at the polling booths for making the premises accessible to the disabled as per the recent directions of the Supreme Court.

In view of the hot summer, Ms. Chandra is also understood to have asked the officials concerned about the arrangements being made to protect the voters from heat. The Election Commission has already decided to supply two packets of ORS and ten grams of sugar in every polling kit. The Delhi Jal Board would ensure regular supply of drinking water at every polling booth, while health officials would be making regular rounds of the polling premises. Among others, the review meeting was also attended by District Commissioners and Divisional Commissioners.

At another meeting, the Municipal Commissioner, Rakesh Mehta, also reviewed the poll preparedness along with senior officials and Zonal Deputy Commissioners. Mr. Mehta asked the officials to ensure that ramps were erected at the earliest at all inaccessible polling booths.

He also asked the officials to ensure that all the illegal hoardings, posters and banners were removed at the earliest and action initiated against those responsible for it.

No banners at private premises

The Election Commission today said the political parties and candidates in the Capital cannot put hoardings and banners on private premises which are in violation of the Supreme Court ruling, which prohibits hoardings that are "hazardous" and "a disturbance" to safe traffic movement.

Following this clarification, the Chief Electoral Officer for Delhi, Arun Goyal, directed the authorities concerned including the police and the civic agencies to ensure that there was no political hoarding and banners even at private premises.

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