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DPL centres ‘out of order’

PHOTO: SATISH. H

VOTERS’ WOES: GHMC staff sorting out EPIC cards at the Charminar constituency DPL centre on Friday.

HYDERABAD: Even after four days, most of the permanent Designated Photography Location (DPL) centres set up by GHMC across the city for enrolling new voters and making corrections in the Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) are yet to commence their operations full scale.

Citizens visiting the centres established in various municipal circles are forced to turn back disappointed with the officials in charge advising them to return after a couple of days due to the continuing software problem, other technical glitches and lack of proper directions to the field personnel. To add to the problems are the unscheduled power cuts.

“We are ready to update the electoral rolls. As and when we are supplied with computer software, EPIC works would be commenced,” said an operator of the Malakpet constituency DPL centre. “We could have commenced works right from day one, unfortunately there was no power,” informed a staffer at the Yakutpura DPL centre.

There are four DPL centres pertaining to Charminar, Chandrayangutta, Malakpet and Yakutpura constituencies in the Charminar Municipal Office premises.

Of them, two centres are functioning and the rest are yet to begin work.

Another issue is the address. “We are finding it difficult to find the venue as the DPL centres are named after GHMC circles and not the area. It is very confusing,” said Munneruddin, a resident pointing to the vacant Chandrayangutta DPL centre.

At other centres, the scenario is not much different. “I approached Khairatabad DPL centre seeking change of address but was asked to approach later as the operators have cited virus problems in the software,” complained Varahamurthy, a resident.

In Secunderabad, the DPL centres have started but only applications are being taken and minor corrections are being undertaken besides disbursing left-over EPICs.

Voters not having photo in the electoral rolls too can meet the officer concerned to get it included, officials said.

“New inclusions will be allowed only when an applicant attains 18 years of age as on or before January 1, 2008. EPICs would be issued to applicants at their doorstep within a month and they do not have to approach the respective DPL centres," said Karwan Constituency Election Returning Officer P.V. Rama Murthy.

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