District collector orders probe into poll code violation

Ganjam district administration has ordered an inquiry into an alleged violation of model code of conduct by the Berhampur Lok Sabha member.
MP Sidhant Mohapatra, the cine star-turned-politician has allegedly laid foundation stone for a lift Irrigation project at Karatali village near Chhatrapur after announcement of the poll schedule on March 5.
The Rs 15-lakh project is to be implemented under his local area development fund.
"We have already ordered an inquiry into the allegation against Mohapatra... Basing on the media reports," said district collector Prem Chandra Chaudhary, who is also the returning officer.
"Appropriate action will be taken against the violator, if we found it true" he stated.

Meanwhile, the administration has launched a drive to remove the posters, banners and hoardings of different political parties from the public places.

"We have removed 19 such materials from different places in the district on Thursday. These included posters (6), banners (9) and hoardings (4)" said a senior officer.
Notice will be issued to the concerned political parties to bear the expenditure of removing such articles, he said.
A number of large size hoardings were installed by the ruling BJD and Congress in different places of Berhampur town, even in some of the government buildings before the declaration of the poll date.

But the parties have not removed the same even after the announcement of the date.