Covid-safety measures not up to the mark in Bengal: EC

NEW DELHI: Noting that the enforcement of Disaster Management Act to ensure a Covid-safe poll campaign in West Bengal had been less than adequate, the Election Commission on Saturday directed the state disaster management authority (SDMA) headed by the chief secretary, to step up its assigned statutory duty to enforce Covid-appropriate behaviour.
The instructions were given at a meeting chaired by chief election commissioner Sushil Chandra here to discuss strict implementation of EC’s guidelines for a Covid-safe campaign. Participating in the online review meeting were election commissioner Rajiv Kumar and senior officers of West Bengal including the chief secretary, secretary (disaster management), health secretary, DGP, Kolkata police commissioner, state chief electoral officers and state police nodal officer cum ADG (law and order).
An EC release said the district machinery, which is tasked with election-related work, is responsible for enforcement of laws including the DM Act. The commission directed that the SDMA and its functionaries must implement and monitor the implementation of Covid norms during the campaign and take appropriate action in case of any violation. The chief secretary apprised EC that West Bengal government was in receipt of ECI directions on enforcement of Covid-19 norms during electioneering. He assured that the entire machinery had been directed to take more stringent and prompt steps for sensitisation and enforcement of extant instructions under the Act.
The commission appreciated the state machinery for the flawless arrangements in polling booths for Covid-appropriate behaviour and safe disposal of bio medical waste. It was informed that as per the directions given by the commission, preventive Covid gear including 2.4 crore face masks, 17 lakh face shields, 5.5 lakh hand sanitiser bottles of different capacities, 1.31 lakh PPE gear; and 10 crore hand-gloves had been procured by the poll authorities in West Bengal.