New EVMs for council polls; govt allays tampering fears

SHILLONG: The District Council Affairs (DCA) Department has said it has procured about 820 EVMs from Hyderabad-based Electronic Corporation of India Limited (ECIL).
Speaking to reporters, Commissioner and Secretary T Dkhar said the new EVMs will be used along with the 1,200-odd old ones in the council polls scheduled for February 27.
Unlike in the Assembly elections, the voter verifiable paper audit trail, or VVPAT, will not be used in the council elections.
With allegations of EVM tampering being raised by political parties and others, Dkhar asserted that no proof of tampering has been reported.
To a query, Dkhar said the DCA is waiting for the proposal from the district council for the enhancement of security deposit. Currently, the security deposit stands at Rs 5,000.
On the matter of sensitive/vulnerable areas, Dkhar said it will be worked out by respective deputy commissioners.
“A meeting will be held in the first week of February chaired by Chief Secretary Y Tsering to work out the election requirements, law and order problem, state of preparedness of polling booths etc,” he added.
The proposed expenditure of the council polls will be Rs 10 crore.