West Bengal to Secure Massive Power Backup for Upcoming Elections
In a significant move to ensure smooth electoral operations, the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company is planning a large-scale procurement of diesel generator (DG) sets and Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) units on a rental basis. The equipment will be sourced from neighboring states, primarily Assam and Bihar, to guarantee an uninterrupted power supply at all polling stations during the voting period.
Ensuring Uninterrupted Power at Polling Booths
The state is preparing for elections with 85,379 polling booths located across 55,000 polling premises. The Election Commission has issued strict directives to power companies to maintain continuous electricity supply on voting days. According to a senior power official, DG sets or UPS units will be deployed at approximately 40,000 locations out of the total polling premises.
In major urban areas such as Kolkata, Salt Lake, and Siliguri, these backup systems will be strategically stationed at sector offices. From there, they can be quickly dispatched to any polling station experiencing power issues, ensuring minimal disruption to the electoral process.
Addressing Infrastructure Gaps and Webcasting Concerns
The Election Commission's initiative comes after it discovered that several hundred polling stations, including about 100 in Kolkata alone, currently lack electricity ahead of the polls. This deficiency has raised serious concerns, as the absence of power could severely impact webcasting, which has been mandated to ensure transparency and security during the elections.
District election officers have been directed to immediately restore electricity at these locations. For polling stations where direct electrical connections are not feasible, alternative arrangements are being made. EC sources emphasized that authorities must ensure no booth is affected by power shortages on polling day.
Critical Areas and Past Preparedness Questions
Among the identified locations, the Kolkata Port constituency has the highest number of affected booths, with 50 requiring urgent power solutions. This situation has sparked criticism regarding past infrastructure preparedness and raised questions about previous polling arrangements in these areas.
Additionally, an official noted that on average, 8-10 Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) centers in each district lack electricity. While these centers typically operate during daylight hours and do not require constant power, many will serve as polling stations during the elections. Consequently, power companies have been instructed to provide temporary electricity supply to these locations to support their dual function.
The comprehensive plan underscores the state's commitment to facilitating a seamless and transparent electoral process, addressing both immediate power needs and broader infrastructure challenges.
