News
EC shocked by police mini-poll estimate
The Election Commission is to raise objections with the Treasury over the estimates submitted by the Police Department to assist in the conduct of the upcoming local council polls, after the figures showed a three-fold increase compared to the 2018 local polls expenses.
The Police Department has sent in an estimate of Rs 2.8 billion as the required amount for services to be provided for the March 9 local council elections in contrast to the claim for the local polls five years ago.
A senior EC official said the estimated expenses covering allowances, fuel costs, hiring of vehicles, use of telephones and communication, stationery and incidental expenses showed large increases with some as much as six-fold.
Among the increases is the vehicle-hiring cost which has increased from Rs 138 million to Rs 745 million. The fuel bill estimates have increased from Rs 108 million to Rs 675 million.
He said the Commission had made its own estimates and found that the figures sent by the Police Department were heavily overestimated.
He said the EC had decided it would make payments only upon the submission of bills by the Police Department.
A senior Police officer said their estimates were based on current prices.The EC also would be taking up the matter in the Supreme Court where three petitions related to the polls are pending. In a related development, the EC also plans to take up in court the delay in the release of Treasury funds for the polls.
The EC had received only Rs 35 million from the required Rs 100 million to prepare for the polls. The official said they had estimated the amounts needed for the elections, but were concerned that the funds would not be received in time.
According to the estimates Rs 800 million would be needed before the end of February; Rs 1,600 million by the end of March; Rs 1,400 million by the end of April, Rs 600 million by the end of May; Rs 120 million by the end of June and Rs 80 million by the end of July.
Apart from the financial issue, the EC has not received a satisfactory response from the Power and Energy Ministry to increase the fuel quota for the Commission and the candidates.
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