Palamu administration has estimated about Rs14 crore expenditure for conducting the upcoming panchayat poll here. Sources said estimated expenditure has been sent to the State Government for sanction. In 2010 panchayat election, Rs8 crore was spent.
Deputy Commissioner Palamu K Srinivasan said Rs14 crore is just an estimated one. When asked on the reason for this high side of estimated expenditure as just 5 years back it was Rs8 crores that were spent, Srinivasan said 'Price rise of everything that matters in the conduct of this poll is behind this rise'.
Srinivasan reiterated, "This is our estimate. All depends on how much the State Government gives us." He assured that the panchayat poll will be free and fair where a voter will be all free to exercise his right. Srinivasan said the administration has shortlisted critical booths. A booth is labelled as critical where the voting is above 90%, voting is done in favour of just one candidate, where there is a past history of communal tension or caste tension for votes etc.
The administration is also toying with the idea to relocate some hyper sensitive booths. Srinivasan said the relocation will be done most carefully in which a voter is not made to trudge any more than 2 kms to reach his booth.