Preparations are afoot for the three Vidhan Sabha by-elections to be held on August 21 in Madhya Pradesh. Special arrangements are being made in view of the rainy season.
last five years’ rainfall figures of Vijayraghavgarh and Bahoriband Assembly constituencies in Katni district and Agar Vidhan Sabha seat in Agar-Malwa district have been analysed to ensure smooth polling. Collectors and district election officers of both the districts have also informed the Chief Electoral Officer about the arrangements being made.
On the polling day, waterproof tents will be arranged and polling booths housed in buildings where the roofs will be covered with polythene sheets. JCBs and cranes will be deployed at 5-6 places in every Vidhan Sabha constituency in view of possibility of disruption of roads.
Arrangements for flushing out rainwater will be made to prevent water logging in the polling booths. lED torches and petromaxes will also be arranged for emergency light.
Separate vehicles will be provided to polling parties who are going to the polling booths that can be approached only through kuchha roads and wireless sets to deal with disruption of communications. Boats will also be arranged for Bansagar dam-affected areas of Vijayraghavgarh.
Primary/community health centres in by-election constituencies will have medicines to treat snake bite or other poisonous insects.
Ambulances with doctors and staff will also be deployed at prominent places. In view of the rains, polling parties will reach polling booths two days before polling.
Disaster management teams have also been constituted in the constituencies. Polling booths prone to excessive rainfall will be identified and further special arrangements will be made there.
During training, officers-employees on poll duty have been directed to carry torches with them, mosquito-nets and umbrella/raincoat. Kuchcha roads leading to polling booths affected by excessive rains have been identified and repaired.