Haryana would get uninterrupted supply of electricity and water — one day before poll, on the day of poll and the day of counting during the fifth general elections of Panchayati Raj Institutions to be held on January, 10, 17 and 24, 2016.
State Election Commissioner, Rajeev Sharma, on Monday said that a letter to this effect has been issued to the Additional Chief Secretaries of Power and Renewable Energy Departments and Principal Secretary of Public Health Engineering Department, and they have been requested to depute adequate number of field officers to make necessary arrangements.
Moreover, to conduct free, fair and peaceful polls, ‘dry days’ would be declared and notified under relevant laws for such period during the elections as are appropriate at or around the area where the elections are to be held. Sharma said that such period of dry days so declared and notified would include the period of 48 hours ending with hour fixed for conclusion of poll and the day on which counting of votes is to be taken up.
He said that no liquor shops, hotels, restaurants, clubs and other establishments’ selling or serving liquor would be permitted to sell or serve liquor to any person whosoever he may be on these dates. No proprietary clubs, star hotels, restaurants etc. and hotels run by anyone even if they are issued different categories of licenses for possession and supply of liquor, would be permitted to serve liquors on these days.
He said that the storage of liquors by individuals would be curtailed during the above period and the restrictions provided in the Excise laws on the storage in unlicensed premises would be vigorously enforced.
Sharma said that steps would also be taken to prohibit the sale of liquor in adjoining areas, so that there are no chances of clandestine movement of liquor from those areas, where the restriction has not been in operation.
The State Election Commission also made partial modification in the election schedule of two districts of the State. Sharma said that election for Gram Panchayat Sudhiwas of block Behal of district Bhiwani and for block Hassanpur of district Palwal would be conducted in the third phase on January 24. He added that the District Election Officer, Bhiwani, has submitted that the ‘wardbandi’ of Gram Panchayat Sudhiwas has been done afresh. Similarly, it has been decided to conduct the polling for block Hassanpur in the third phase in compliance with the orders given by Punjab and Haryana High Court on the petition filed in relation to reservation of Gram Panchayats in block Hassanpur.