7,780 booths identified ‘sensitive’

Addressing reporters at the state Secretariat, the CEO said 89,160 control unit machines and 94,563 VVPATs are ready for polls. He further said 5.99 crore voters are eligible to vote in the upcoming polls and this includes 2.96 crore male voters and 3.03 crores women electorate.

For the first time 192 mentally challenged people will be casting their vote at the Institute of Mental Health, Kilpauk, CEO said adding provisions had also been made for the prisoners to cast their votes.

For the April 18 elections, 67,720 polling booths are kept ready. Nearly 7,780 booths had been identified as vulnerable.

Police and paramilitary will be deployed in addition to ensure that the vulnerable booths are well protected. About 30,000 web cameras are to be installed at polling booths.

Commenting on the execution of model code of conduct, Sahoo said till now a sum of Rs 127 crore cash is seized of this Rs 50.03 crore is through raids conducted by Income Tax department. The poll officials had till now returned cash to a tune of Rs 62 crore.

The flying squads and surveillance teams had also seized close to 1,000 kgs of gold and 594 kgs of silver.

The state is now under complete surveillance of 1,404 teams comprising static surveillance squads and flying squads monitoring the state for poll-related cases. More than 4,180 poll violation cases are registered and necessary action is underway, the CEO added.