EVMs for civic polls, but MCD goes for pitchers to keep water

EVMs for civic polls, but MCD goes for pitchers to keep water 


The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) might have gone tech-savvy but its preparation for civic elections remains woefully outdated.
While electronic voting machines will be used in these polls and the election commission has been asking people to register online for 

Voter's ID card, the civic agency continues to follow age-old practices.

Right from buying earthen pitchers (matka) with lids, and painda (base for supporting the pitchers), the civic agency has also invited bids for providing glasses, shamiyana, pedestal fans and curtains for the polls. The elections are slated to be held in April.

All these things will be required at the 12,044-odd polling booths which will be set up for the polls.

"All the officers who will be stationed at the polling stations would require basic facilities such as water and tea. Purchasing water bottles will be an expensive affair which is why we have decided to continue with matkas," said a senior MCD official.

A total of 24,000 matkas, 48,000 glasses, shamiyanas, curtains, and pedestal fans will be purchased. All this equipment will have to be supplied to the various furniture centres of the civic agency.

Meanwhile, Election Commission sources said the MCD should have discussed the issue with it and taken its suggestions before calling for tenders.

A total of 80,000 polling officers will be stationed across the city during the polls.

The exercise is going to cost Rs 4 crore.

The central zone which covers most of south Delhi will have the highest number of polling stations.

Also, 50 per cent of the 272 municipal seats have been reserved for women candidates in these elections. Delhi is the first state to introduce such reservation in civic polls.

Source: Hindustan Times