Author: Suman K. Jha
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: May 14, 2009
Two polling teams of 12 trained trekkers are
walking 45 km through snow at an altitude of 13,700 feet to ensure that the
2009 Lok Sabha elections end before the results come in on May 16.
For the record, the largest democratic exercise
in the world will end on May 15 with voting for two polling stations in Jammu
and Kashmir's Zanskar sub-division, Ralakung and Phema, with 23 and 14 voters
respectively.
Voting in the rest of the country, with 71.3
crore voters, divided into 8.34 lakh polling stations, was completed with
the fifth phase today. Voting in the two Zanskar polling stations in the Ladkah
Lok Sabha seat was scheduled for today but the Election Commission deferred
it yesterday after IAF choppers, carrying poll personnel and EVMs, were unable
to land there.
"IAF choppers were to help us transport
polling equipment and personnel in 97 polling stations identified throughout
the state. In these two polling stations, however, it proved difficult for
the choppers to land as they are located in a gorge. We had conducted a reccee
earlier though," said Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer B R Sharma.
Two polling teams will trek - they began at
4 am today - to reach the two polling stations before Friday.
After regular polling staffers said no to
the arduous task, six porters were roped in for the exercise. The porters
in the teams will be paid a one-time honorarium of Rs 5,000 each while government
officials - one presiding officer, one polling officer and one constable and
one satellite phone operator - in the two teams will get a month's salary
for the task.
