The Delhi Police has written to the Election Commission to foot the food bill of its men and officers who will be on poll duty. Thousand of officers from the Delhi Police and other para-military forces begin their duty 24 hours prior to the polling day. Delhi Police top brass sent a written communiqué asking the poll body to reimburse the food bill for its 62,730 men and officers. It’s a normal practice for the force to get its food bill compensated as it will be on poll duty on Thursday. The deployment of the force was made operation from the evening itself as it needed to secure the polling stations, booths and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
In the letter the Delhi Police has stated that around 62,730 police personnel would be deployed on election duty apart from 4000 Delhi Home guards. The amount as per the revised rate which is fixed at the rate of Rs. 150 by the Election Commission may be provided for all officers. “A sum of Rs 1, 00, 69,500 as per the revised rate for Rs 150 each personnel may be provided. Besides, 4000 Delhi home guards will also be deployed for election duty for which a sum of Rs 6, 00,000 will also be required for the purpose. It may be requested that necessary sanction of Rs 1,06,69,500 only for Delhi Police/CPMF officers and Delhi Home Guards may kindly be conveyed to the Headquarters stated the letter. “The said amount has been increased from Rs 70 lakh (during assembly polls) to Rs 1.07 crore this time it is true. It a routine matter those who are on duty, liable for refreshment or lunch”, the letter said,
The police officials are on their toes to ensure law and order in the city during polls. Apart from moving its machinery for the safety and security of the city and sanitizing the sensitive and hyper sensitive areas, the police are also supposed to provide cover to the poll officers and the EVMs. Hence the food expenses are to be borne by the election commission, a police official added.