4 hours ago
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Residents of Vallalar Nagar (Phase-3), adjacent the Office of the Collectorate, staged a protestation connected Thursday against the conversion of the authorities assemblage centre into a beardown country to store EVM machines for the 2027 section assemblage elections.
Residents said the existing assemblage centre was built much than 3 decades agone to service families beneath poorness enactment (BPL) successful the area. The installation has been a lifeline for mediocre families to behaviour backstage household functions astatine debased cost.
“Apart from backstage functions, escaped aesculapian camps and humor donation camps are besides organised successful the hallway each 3 months. The installation is easy accessible for residents arsenic it is located astatine the centre of a residential colony,” said D. Anand Prabakar, secretary, Vallalar (Phase-III) Residents Welfare Association.
Corporation officials said enactment to store EVMs astatine the centre began much than six months ago, aft tract verification of the site, to guarantee the information of the machines.
Subsequently, section ward councillors and civic unit were informed astir the usage of the centre for predetermination purposes. The connection had besides received the District Collector’s support earlier being sent to the Election Commission (EC), which excessively gave its motion recently.
“During tract visits, residents had not opposed the connection to store EVMs astatine the centre. The EVMs volition beryllium kept astatine the installation till the elections are held. Till then, the residents tin usage the adjacent assemblage centre,” R. Lakshmanan, Commissioner, Vellore Corporation, told The Hindu.
On Thursday, a squad of predetermination officials and civic unit visited the centre to store EVMs for the upcoming polls. More than 20 ample alloy boxes, each comprising astatine slightest 50 EVMs, were kept astatine the centre.
As portion of the information measures, CCTV cameras person been installed successful the power country of the Collectorate bureau to show the centre. A work constabulary constable has besides been posted.
Residents said the Corporation had not provided an alternate installation to behaviour functions.
Spread crossed much than 2,000 sq.ft, the assemblage centre consists of a communal hallway susceptible of accommodating 60 persons. It has h2o taps, lighting, washrooms, diesel generators, and a parking area. The civic assemblage charges a nominal interest for utilizing the facility.
“The assemblage centre besides serves arsenic a level for organising Republic Day and Independence Day celebrations. Residents besides clasp payment relation meetings astatine the installation to sermon civic issues,” G. Mohan, a resident, said.
