HYDERABAD, July 29: Arrangements to hold the local body elections in Hyderabad district in a free, fair and transparent manner were discussed at a meeting presided over by the DCO of Hyderabad, Mohammad Hussain Syed, at Zila Nazim’s Secretariat here on Friday.

Speaking on the occasion, the DCO said that the elections to be held on August 25, had to be conducted in a fair and transparent manner.

The DCO said that according to the Local Government Ordinance, all government organizations were bound to extend their services to the district returning officer (DRO) for conducting elections smoothly.

He said that apart from district returning officer (DRO), 10 other returning officers (ROs), including four ROs at taluka Hyderabad city, three at taluka Latifabad, two at taluka Hyderabad rural and one at taluka Qasimabad had been appointed to conduct the elections.

The DCO directed the EDO of revenue and EDO of education to form teams at taluka level and ensure cleanliness, provision of water, furniture, fax machines, telephone, electricity connections and computers with operators and one chowkidar up to August 21.

He said that most of the polling stations were established in school buildings but some would be established in other government buildings, and officers of departments concerned had been made responsible to provide all facilities.

The DCO directed Hesco authorities to ensure uninterrupted power supply not only to facilitate the polling staff but also to make water supply and sewerage system functional especially in the urban areas of the district.

He also directed that a generator be made available at the sessions court building to ensure uninterrupted power supply in case of any emergency.

The DCO directed EDO of health and the management of Hilal-i-Ahmer to keep all hospitals, rural health centres and basic health units on high alert to meet any eventuality on the polling day.

He also directed the TMOs to keep the fire brigade ready and available at designated places.

Mohammad Hussain Syed directed the management of Regional Transport Authority and traffic police to ensure transportation required for dispatching polling staff and material at designated places.