Imphal, January 05: A high level meeting, chaired by the state chief secretary Rakesh, was held today at the Manipur secretariat, south block, to discuss preparations for the 8th state Assembly elections, due to be held on February 14 and 21 next.

The meeting of the state level coordinating committee, attended by the chef electoral officer, DS Poonia and several other senior officers agreed to make the necessary arrangement to activate election offices in each of the districts and to issue instructions to the concerned departments for providing the necessary infrastructure.

The electricity and PHE departments are to be asked to make arrangements for power and water supply at the election offices, and the telecom department will be asked to make arrangements for installation of temporary telephones.

The Manipur Police Radio will also be asked to install wireless transmission equipments and set up a control room.

The meeting was informed that altogether 28 election observers are likely to be deputed by the Election Commission of India for the Assembly polls, and it was agreed that every cooperation should be provided to the observers by the state polling personnel.

The state home department is to take up necessary preventive measure for any untoward incident in the elections, and for crime control.

It was also decided that until the elections are over, the home department should submit daily crime and law and order progress report to the state election office.