Ministers take charge with promises

Ministers take charge with promises
Anupam Trivedi
Tue, Jul 7 02:15 PM
The council of ministers in the Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank's Cabinet took charge on Monday after they were allocated portfolios late on Sunday evening. The mood was clearly reflected on the face of ministers while taking charge at Vidhan Sabha building. In the changed political scenario, Nishank has elevated many in their positions, while clipping the wings of a few ministers. Diwakar Bhatt, a cabinet minister from Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, was aghast at the Urban Development portfolio being taken away from him, which he was holding in the B.C. Khanduri's cabinet. "This is politics, although I worked lot in understanding Urban Development but now it is no more with me," said Bhatt. He added his priority would be making food and civil supplies department more effective. "We are planning to set new guidelines for kerosene distribution system in the state." Irrigation minister Matbar Singh Kandari apart from retaining his earlier portfolios has additionally got minor irrigation and social welfare. He, however, wants to focus on settling issue of distribution of assets with UP irrigation department. It is learnt that UP at present holds right over the irrigation department properties in Uttarakhand. "Uttarakhand High Court has recently given verdict in our favour. We have in the meantime filed 'caveat' in Supreme Court requesting the apex court not to give any decision without hearing our version," said Kandari adding that Uttarakhand would appoint top advocates to back state's case. The old horse of the BJP looked somehow happy with the allocation of portfolio. On the first floor of the Vidhan Sabha building, Cabinet Minister Bishan Singh Chufal said "my top priority is to make Uttarakhand forest save from fire. I have asked officials to make full proof scheme for the same". Chufal also claimed that he would turn state transport corporation from loss making
unit into profit making corporation. The chief minister has elevated Bishan Singh Chufal as he has been allocated two important portfolios - transport and forest. Chufal has also retained all those departments, which he was holding in the B.C. Khanduri cabinet. Senior cabinet minister from Kumaon, Prakash Pant was busy taking meeting with the officers of Drinking Water department. Nevertheless high profile tourism department has been taken back from him. "It is not a good thing," said one of Pant's supporters expressing dissatisfaction over distribution of department. Agriculture Minister Trivendar Rawat who has also holds horticulture department hoped that the combination between both agriculture and horticulture would help in taking agro sector to new heights.
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