Kamal Ghorui
Kolkata: West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company is planning to procure a substantial number of diesel generator (DG) sets and UPS units on a rental basis from neighbouring states like Assam and Bihar.This will be done to ensure an uninterrupted supply of power at polling stations. The state will have 85,379 polling booths at 55,000 polling premises. The Election Commission has directed power companies to ensure continuous supply on voting days.“Out of the 55,000 polling premises, DG sets or UPS units will be deployed in 40,000 locations. In Kolkata, Salt Lake and Siliguri, these backup systems will be stationed at sector offices and dispatched immediately to polling stations as required,” a power official said.EC has expressed concern after discovering that a few hundred polling stations, including about 100 in Kolkata, don’t have electricity ahead of polls. Officials said the lack of power could severely impact webcasting that has been mandated to ensure transparency.The poll body has also directed district election officers to immediately restore electricity at these locations. In places that can’t have direct electricity connections, alternative arrangements have been made. Authorities have been told to ensure no booth should be affected due to the power crisis on polling day, EC sources said.According to sources, the highest number of such booths (50) has been identified in the Kolkata Port constituency. This has raised questions about past polling arrangements in these areas. It has also sparked criticism of infrastructure preparedness.Another power official said on average, 8-10 ICDS centres in each district lack electricity. “These centres usually don’t need power supply as they operate during the day. However, as many will function as polling stations, companies have been told to provide temporary power supply,” the official said.
