Work in affected areas not to be hampered by Model Code

Development and reconstruction work in the calamity-hit areas of Uttarakhand will not be affected by the Model Code of Conduct, the Election Commission said today.
Policy decisions will of course be kept on hold till the electoral process is on but the Model Code of Conduct will not hamper development or reconstruction efforts in disaster affected areas," Deputy Election Commissioner incharge of Uttarakhand Vinod Zutshi said here.
He was talking to reporters after holding a meeting with political parties to take their views on poll-related issues.
There was apprehension among people in Uttarakhand that the Model Code might affect development projects in affected areas.

Zutshi said authorities have been asked to ensure that 'Char Dham' devotees did not face any inconvenience due to the Model Code.
The single-phase polling in the five Lok Sabha seats of Uttarakhand is slated for May 7 when the annual 'Char Dham' pilgrimage would have commenced with the portals of Kedarnath scheduled to be thrown open to devotees on May 4.

Declaring that EC had adopted a zero tolerance approach towards cases related to violation of the Model Code, Zutshi said DMs and SPs of all the 13 districts of the hill state have been asked to deal sternly with the offenders.

"We have received complaints that prompt action is not being taken by officials concerned on violation of the Model Code," he said.
Admitting that the EC has received complaints against different political parties regarding violation of the Model Code, he said in some of the cases response to notices issued by the state election office to parties concerned have been received and forwarded to the EC.
"We are studying the responses and whichever party is found guilty will not be spared," he said.
Political parties, especially main opposition BJP, is accusing the ruling Congress almost on a regular basis of misusing official machinery and the state infrastructure in violation of the Model Code.