MARGAO
As the process of sealing the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) at the strong rooms was completed at 8.15 am on Tuesday, elaborate security arrangements are put in place to guard the EVMs from the 21 constituencies of South Goa at the Vidya Vikas Mandal’s education campus, Margao.
A three-tier security has been thrown around the complex to guard the EVMs. Around 56 Closed Circuit TVs surveillance cameras have been installed in and around the strong rooms housing the EVMs.
Three dedicated team of officials have been constituted to keep an eye on the EVMs round the clock to ensure high level of security. A fire tender has also been stationed at the complex as part of the fool proof arrangements put in place.
The Goan understands that EVMs from the 21 constituencies of South Goa were all brought to the VVM complex, where dedicated strong rooms have been put in place to store the EVMs of each of the constituencies. Around seven rooms have been used to house the EVMs, with each storing EVMs of three constituencies.
Senior officials pointed out that a fool-proof security ring has been thrown at the VVM complex, which will be manned by both the Goa police and the para-military personnel. “We have put in a place a three-tier security cover for the EVMs. One, around the rooms where the EVMs are stored. Another security cover outside the strong rooms and the third at the entrance to the complex. The security provided in an around the complex is full proof”, informed the officials.
Besides, the 56 CCTV surveillance cameras are all installed at strategic locations, in and around the strong rooms to keep a close watch on any breach.
A system of round the clock monitoring has been put in place with the constitution of three dedicated teams of officials, who will be working in shifts.
The last time the VVM complex, Margao was used for storage of the EVMs from South Goa and notified as a counting centre was in 2012. Last time round, the EVMs were all stored at the Multipurpose Complex Borda, which was notified as a counting centre.
