Returning Officer Jammu Parliamentary constituency, Ramesh Kumar today reviewed the arrangements put in place here at Government Polytechnic and MAM College for the counting of votes.
The Returning Officer visited both the counting centres. Hewas accompanied by SSP Jammu Tejinder Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioners Rishpal Singh and Dr Tahir Firdous, SDM SouthShrikant Balasaheb Suse, SDM North Satish Sharma, SP South Vinay Sharma, ChiefPlanning Officer Yoginder Singh Katoch, Additional SP Security Shaheen Wahidand other senior officers of the concerned department.
The Counting centre established at the GovernmentPolytechnic College will cover 11 assembly constituencies which includes Samba,Vijaypur, Nagrota, Jammu East, R.S Pura, Suchetgarh, Marh, Raipur Domana,Surankote, Mendhar and Poonch Haveli.
The counting centres of MAM college Jammu will cover 9assembly constituencies which includes Gandhinagar, Jammu West, Bishnah,Akhnoor, Chhamb, Nowshera, Darhal, Rajouri and Kalakote.
Returning Officer reviewed the security arrangementsincluding the deployment of paramilitary and JKP personnel, staff for counting of votes, facilitiesbeing made for the counting agents and mechanism for declaration of results. Hestressed upon the officers to follow the plan to ensure that counting will bedone in most efficient and transparent way.
Barricading, Traffic management in and around the countingcenters, parking of vehicles, entry of counting staff and polling agents, information dissemination by the countingofficers to the polling agents, establishment of control rooms and media centrefor updating voting results and itsdisplay, Drinking water availability, installation of mobile toilets, cleaningand mosquito fogging around the centers,installation of public address system, fire tenders availability and other issues were also discussed in detailduring the visit.
Returning Officer directed the security officers not toallow mobile phones or other electronic gadgets as they are prohibited in thecounting centers and no person without valid ID proof to be allowed to enterthe premises of the counting centers.
Kumar also passed necessary directions to the nodal officersfor the procedure to be followed on the movement of Electronic voting Machinesduring the counting process to be as per the directions and guidelines of theElection Commission of India.
Kumar said that proper security arrangement had been put inplace and CCTVs installed to monitor the premises round the clock. The centersare manned by central Para military forces and local police. Sufficientarrangements have been put in place to make the counting of votes successful,he added.