By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Election department has directed the State autonomous district councils to buy Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for conduct of the autonomous district council (ADC) elections scheduled to be held in the early part of next year.
“We would have to purchase the EVMs on our own. The Election department has asked the three Autonomous District Councils (KHADC, JHADC and GHADC) to procure their own EVMs for the elections next year,” KHADC CEM Pynshngain N Syiem informed on Friday. Syiem said that the ADCs have been asked to procure their own EVMs in view of the Lok Sabha election which is also scheduled to be held next year.
“The Election department wanted to avoid any confusion in case there is clash in the dates of the elections for both the district councils and the Lok Sabha. The Election department would not be able to provide the ADCs with EVMs if the election dates clash,” Syiem said.
Meanwhile, Syiem informed that a total amount of Rs 1.10 crore has been earmarked to the KHADC through the 13th Finance Commission to procure the EVMs, while adding that similar funds have also been allotted to the JHADC and GHADC.
Replying to a query, he informed that in the past the State Government used to provide the EVMs to the ADCs on loan to conduct the MDC elections.
“This is the first occasion that the ADCs have to procuring their own EVMs,” Syiem added.