Webcast from 19 polling stations in Ganjam

BERHAMPUR: Polling will be webcast from 19 booths in Ganjam district on Thursday. There are 2,879 booths, including 23 auxiliary polling stations, in the district.
"Booths with broadband connection and those located in sensitive areas have been identified for the webcast. It will help prevent illegal activities like booth capturing and bogus voting," said collector (Ganjam) Prem Chandra Chaudhary.
The Election Commission, chief electoral officer, Odisha, and district election officer at Chhatrapur can witness balloting live over the internet with the help of this facility. Besides, the broadcast would be closely monitored by officers in the district election control room, sources said.
Besides, digital and video cameras would be installed in 159 and 51 polling stations respectively to record the voting process. Micro-observers would be deployed in other hyper-sensitive booths to ensure free and fair polling, sources added.
Chaudhary said the administration has started a helpline (1950), where complaints can be lodged against any illegal activity at polling stations. "Complaints can also be lodged with the SP and the district collector. Police will reach the spot within 15 and 30 minutes in urban and rural areas respectively," he added.
A total of 236 police patrolling units have been deployed across the district to maintain law and order, the collector said, adding that police would go any extent, including opening fire, to prevent booth capturing and other illegal activities.
Chaudhary said generators would be used at polling stations without electricity collection. There are 27 such booths in the district, sources said.