LS Polls: Micro observers to be deputed in sensitive and hypersensitive booths

April 5, 2014

Mangalore, Apr 5: There are 379 sensitive polling stations and 198 hypersensitive polling stations in the district, out of the total 1766 polling stations in the district. Among them, about 62 polling stations are located in naxal affected areas. A total of 551 micro observers will be deputed in the district, to keep an eye on theses polling stations, said deputy commissioner and district election officer (DEO) A B Ibrahim.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, he said that as per the directions of Election Commission of India, the Central government and bank employees have been appointed as micro observers for conducting free and fair elections. About 446 micro observers will be deputed to cluster booths, sensitive and hypersensitive polling stations and 105 micro observers are kept as reserve. The micro observers will watch and observe the poll behavior of polling officers, agents and voters on the polling day and submit their reports to the general observers, he informed.

He said that the highest number of sensitive polling stations was in Sullia constituency (75 polling stations) and the lowest number was in Mangalore North constituency (25 polling stations). Only Belthangady and Sullia constituencies have polling stations in naxal affected areas, he said.

He said that the third phase of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) randomisation would be held on April 16, on the eve of polling day.

Village Awareness Groups and Ward Awareness Groups

Mr Ibrahim said that Village Awareness Groups (VAGs) and Ward Awareness Groups (WAGs) would be formed in expenditure-sensitive pockets in the district, to observe and check for bribes given to people with an eye on the imminent elections. Each VAG and WAG will consist of five to ten members, including one or two women.

In light of any form of bribery by Lok Sabha candidates or political parties was found, a complaint should be sent to the Complaint Monitory Centre, he said.

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Mangaluru’s ₹1,200 crore fix: Massive sewage overhaul to end city’s drainage woes

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: In a decisive move to tackle the city’s deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced a massive ₹1,200 crore action plan to overhaul its underground drainage (UGD) network.

The initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV, aims to bridge "missing links" in the current system that have left residents grappling with overflowing sewage and environmental hazards.

The Breaking Point

The announcement follows a high-intensity phone-in session on Thursday, where the DC was flooded with grievances from frustrated citizens. Residents, including Savithri from Yekkur, described a harrowing reality: raw sewage from apartments leaking into stormwater drains, creating a "permanent stink" and turning residential zones into mosquito breeding grounds.

"We are facing immense difficulties due to the stench and the health risks. Local officials have remained silent until now," one resident reported during the session.

The Strategy: A Six-Year Vision

DC Darshan HV confirmed that the proposed plan is not a temporary patch but a comprehensive six-year roadmap designed to accommodate Mangaluru’s projected population growth. Key highlights of the plan include:

• Infrastructure Expansion: Laying additional pipelines to connect older neighborhoods to the main grid.

• STP Crackdown: Stricter enforcement of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) regulations. While new apartments are required to have functional STPs, many older buildings lack them entirely, and several newer units are reportedly non-functional.

• Budgetary Push: The plan has already been discussed with the district in-charge minister and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It is slated for formal presentation in the upcoming state budget.

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