The Hindu 06.08.2010
1,486 polling stations for local body polls in Idukki
A Correspondent
| Final list of voters will be released in a few days |
KATTAPPANA: There will be 1,486 polling stations for the elections to the local bodies in Idukki district. Elections will be held to 53 grama panchayats and one municipality in the district.
District Collector Ashok Kumar Singh, who is also the Chief Electoral Officer, said that in each polling station, six officials, including a presiding officer and assistant presiding officer, will be on duty. As per the initial estimate, about 9,000 officials will be deputed for election duty in the district.
A major feature of the polls this time is the creation of Edamalakudy, the first tribal grama panchayat in the State, carved out of Munnar grama panchayat. To reach Edamalakudy, which is nearly 35 km from the nearest town of Munnar, one has to travel by jeep to Pettimudy and then on foot through the 15-km long forest stretch.
Edamalakudy
In the past election officials used to reach Edamalakudy, where 1,206 voters are in the list as per the last delimitation, a day in advance and return with the voting machines by the evening. After formation of the tribal panchay, a road is being constructed to Edamalakudy under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
The District Collector said that all arrangements would be made in advance to make the election process smooth and transparent. The final list of total voters will be released in a few days.
The election department is working overtime for a fool-proof election, especially in the tribal settlement areas inside the Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary and Periyar Tiger Reserve, he said
Heads of various departments have already submitted the details of the staff pattern to the Chief Electoral Officer. Besides the selected officials, some will also be deputed as reserve staff.
Excise and Forest Department officials will also be in charge of security in addition to police. The duty schedule for the election officials will be released soon, said the Chief Electoral Officer.
