Bhubaneswar: The Election Commission of India (ECI) today gave its nod for the shifting of polled Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the State as a precautionary measure against possible damage by the approaching sever cyclonic storm ‘Fani’.
The approval of the ECI came in response to Odisha Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Surendra Kumar’s recommendation earlier, in which he conveyed the former about the danger to strong rooms in Jagatsinghpur and Gajapati districts in case of the Fani onslaught.
The CEO had also sought ECI’s attention for retrofitting and waterproofing of the EVM strong rooms of 55 Assembly constituencies in 14 districts.
After the ECI’s approval the entire EVM shifting process will be conducted in presence of the poll candidates of the particular constituencies. A videography of the shifting will also be done to ensure transparency.
As per the latest prediction of IMD, heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in south coastal districts of Odisha on May 2 under the impact of Fani. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is most likely in Puri, Khurda, Koraput and Kandhamal districts. On 3 May, after landfall of the cyclone all coastal districts will receive very heavy rainfall accompanied by wind speed of 175-185 kmph gusting to 205 kmph.
Ms Kalinga