Mathura DM Conducts Quarterly Inspection of EVM-VVPAT Warehouse
Mathura, June 27: District Magistrate and District Election Officer Chandra Prakash Singh carried out the quarterly internal inspection of the EVM-VVPAT Warehouse located in Baad, Mathura. The inspection focused on security arrangements, fire safety preparedness, warehouse maintenance, and the overall condition of the facility where Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units are securely stored.
Representatives of recognised political parties were present during the inspection in accordance with election-related procedures. Those in attendance included Nazim Abbasi, Sonu Thakur and Harendra Chaudhary from the Samajwadi Party, Munendra Singh Nigam from the Bahujan Samaj Party, Suresh Tarkar representing the Bharatiya Janata Party, and Balveer Singh Pradhan from the Congress.
Security Systems Reviewed
During the inspection, the District Magistrate reviewed the overall security arrangements inside the warehouse. He inspected the CCTV surveillance system to ensure continuous monitoring of the premises and instructed officials to maintain high security standards at all times.
Mr. Singh also directed officials to ensure that the warehouse remains clean and well maintained. He emphasised that regular housekeeping and proper upkeep of the facility are essential for safeguarding election equipment.
Fire Safety Measures Examined
A detailed inspection of the fire safety infrastructure was also conducted. The District Magistrate checked the expiry dates of fire extinguishers installed in different rooms of the warehouse and instructed officials to replace expired cylinders promptly. He directed officers of the Election Office to carry out regular inspections of all firefighting equipment and ensure that fire safety systems remain fully functional throughout the year.
Directions for Security Personnel
The District Magistrate instructed officials to provide necessary basic facilities for personnel deployed at the warehouse. He also advised security staff to discharge their responsibilities with diligence, remain alert during duty hours, and maintain continuous vigilance to protect the sensitive election equipment stored at the facility.
Highlighting the importance of a well-maintained environment, Mr. Singh directed Additional District Magistrate (Finance and Revenue) Dr. Pankaj Kumar Verma to undertake a tree plantation drive within the EVM-VVPAT warehouse campus as part of environmental improvement efforts.
Officials Present During Inspection
The inspection was attended by Additional District Magistrate (Finance & Revenue) and Deputy District Election Officer Dr. Pankaj Kumar Verma, Additional District Magistrate (Administration) Amresh Kumar, Executive Engineer, Public Works Department-I Gulveer Singh, Assistant District Election Officer Manoj Khandelwal, along with representatives of various recognised political parties.
The quarterly inspection forms part of the district administration’s routine measures to ensure that election equipment remains secure, properly maintained, and fully compliant with Election Commission guidelines ahead of future electoral exercises.