Srinagar: The Polling staff deputed for holding seventh phase of District Development Council elections and Panchayat By-elections on Tuesday expressed anguish over the lack of basic facilities at the designated polling stations for the polling staff in Bandipora.
120 polling parties have been dispatched to 120 polling stations for elections on 2 DDC seats, 14 vacant Sarpanch seats and 119 vacant seats. A group of staffers presently stationed at Shahgund A and SonShah mohalla said that they were ‘puzzled’ to see the deplored condition of designated centre which according to them offers them no basic facility even.
Sheikh Showket President JKTF zone Quilmuqam Bandipora said 16 persons of four polling parties were forced to stay in one room throwing all COVID19 SOPs to wind. “We have no electricity, no adequate floor matting and no proper heating arrangement besides no SOPs being followed”, He added.
Urging the district administration for required assistance, the staff said that “We appeal the district authorities to respond to our genuine concerns for an early redressal of our issues to ensure at least a good night stay at the centre.”
