SHILLONG: The upcoming district council election in Khasi and Jaintia Hills districts will hit the state exchequer hard with the District Council Affairs department planning to spend Rs 9.06 crore to carry out the whole exercise.
Informing this here on Thursday, Commissioner and Secretary in charge District Council Affairs department Jopthiaw Lyngdoh said that besides this another Rs 3.79 crore would be spent on security aspect for the smooth and fair conduct of election.
Lyngdoh said that more than Rs 2 crore has been spent for purchase of new EVMs.
Stating that at the time of indention cost of an EVM was Rs 10,000, the senior government official informed his department has purchased 1925 new EVMs which would be used during February 24 election.
“But I am informed that the department has received a fresh bill since the price of EVMs has gone up,” he said but failed to give the exact amount spent for purchase of EVMs.
Lyngdoh said that only the new EVMs would be used during the upcoming district council elections.
The EVMs will be handed over to all the deputy commissioners on Saturday after their arrival from Hyderabad to Nongpoh on Friday.
For 550 polling stations in East Khasi Hills, he said that the department decided to allot 700 EVMs and 160 EVMs for the 123 polling stations in West Khasi Hills, of 300 EVMs for 239 polling stations in Ri-Bhoi, 115 EVMs for the 87 polling stations in South West Khasi Hills.
At the same time, Lyngdoh said that for 85 polling stations under Mairang Civil Sub Division 110 EVMs have been allotted. Similarly, 90 EVMs are allotted for 64 polling station under Sohra Civil Sub Division.
In the JHADC, he said 310 and 140 EVMs will be sanctioned to West Jaintia Hills and East Jaintia Hills districts respectively.
