HYDERABAD: As the majority of the voters in Hyderabad district do not possess Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC), efforts are being made to issue the cards to them at the earliest from the offices of respective Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) of 15 Assembly constituencies.
For the three lakh newly enrolled electors, colour PVC EPIC would be issued free of cost at the ERO offices while for those in need of fresh EPIC cards, `25 will be charged. They can obtain the cards from any of the 18 identified Mee Seva Centres, Hyderabad District Elelction Officer, M Dana Kishore said.
One official from ERO’s office would be put in charge of Permanent EPIC Centre to regulate the generation, printing and supply of Colour EPIC and also to maintain daily accounts of issue of EPIC cards, remittance of sale proceeds and submission of progress report to the Election Branch, GHMC Head Office.
The Mee Seva centres in Hyderabad district where PVC card will be issued on payment of `25 include Alwal, Banjara Hills, Dilsukhnagar, Domalguda, Greenlands, Karmanghat, Khairatabad, RTA office compound, KPHB, Marredpally, Mothinagar, Musheerabad X Road, Nallakunta, Neredmet main road, near Hotel Paradise, Ramnagar, SR Nagar Main Road, HMWS&SB Premises, Santoshnagar and Seethaphalmandi.
Speaking about the poll arrangements, Dana Kishore said that as per the directions issued by the Telangana Chief Electoral Officer and ECI, webcasting will be arranged at all the 3,866 polling stations in 15 Assembly Constituencies of Hyderabad District.
As per the instructions issued by the Election Commission of India, final publication of Electoral Rolls was made on October 12 and 99,226 claims have been received under continuous updation of electoral rolls up to November 9. They will be disposed as per the procedure prescribed by ECI and supplement will be ready by November 19, the last day of receipt of nominations.
For holding the polls, as many as 23,000 polling staff would be deployed; presently there is a shortage of 2,000 staff for which efforts are being made to fill the required staff, he said.
As many as 17,937 persons with disabilities (PwDs) have been enrolled in 15 Assembly constituencies of Hyderabad. Basic facilities would be ensured at the polling stations such as provision of sturdy ramps, wheelchairs, signage boards, designated parking spots, direct access to polling stations and to and fro transport by the Booth Level Officers.