Polling personnel leave for far-flung booths in Darjeeling

The three P-2 booths are in the Singalila National Park area. The Forest Department has banned the entry of animals from outside in the area to prevent the spread of diseases in the Sanctuary.

File photo

EOI, DARJEELING, APRIL 24, 2024 : Polling personnel deputed for far-flung polling stations called P-2 polling stations departed for their poll duty on Wednesday from the Dispersion Center and Receipt Center which has been set up at the Darjeeling Government College.

There are three polling stations in this category under the Darjeeling Assembly Constituency. These are Daragaon Junior High School with 1034 voters, Rammam Forest Primary School with 209 voters and Samanden Forest Primary School having213 voters. All three booths are in the Darjeeling-Pulbazar block.

Ponies are the only means of transport in these remote areas but as these are not available, the polling personnel will have to trek the entire route, carrying the electronic voting machines and the other items necessary for voting.

The three P-2 booths are in the Singalila National Park area. The Forest Department has banned the entry of animals from outside in the area to prevent the spread of diseases in the Sanctuary.

Darjeeling Sub divisional officer and Returning Officer Richard Lepcha said:“The polling personnel for the three polling stations left today from the distribution centre. They will go to Srikhola where they will halt for the night. They will cover a total distance of 106km which may take more than four hours.

"An intermediate strong room has been set up at Srikhola where the EVMs will be kept and manned by security forces as per Election Commission of India norms.

“Tomorrow, in the morning from Srikhola one group will move to Daragaon which is about 17 km away. They will be using four-wheeler vehicles to travel some distance while the rest of the six km they must travel by foot. 

Another group will move to Rammam which is 19 km away and cover half a kilometre by foot. The third booth which is Samanden is 26 km away where the polling personnel will travel seven km on foot,” said Lepcha who added that they will be provided porters and the needed accommodation along with food.

In previous elections instead of porters, ponies were used to carry the poll equipment in the places where the polling personnel had to trek and climb arduous and tough terrain on foot.

“We are providing one sector officer and three assistant sector officers. Due to the terrain we are providing this in the location so there is no delay in the polling process. We are also sending one reserve EVM each to the polling party with the main polling machine in case an emergency arises,” said Lepcha.

He said: “The polling personnel will be returning to Srikhola on election day after polling ends. They will stay there overnight with the EVMs kept in the intermediate strong room with security forces manning it. They will return the next day to the DCRC at Darjeeling making them the last to arrive here". 

Ajay Gupta who got his duty at Daragoan said: “It is my first time that I am going to the place so apart from doing my duty I will also be able to visit a new place. I just want the elections to go smoothly."