Pramod Sawant to retain Home, Finance, Education, Mining

Team Herald

PANJIM: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Friday finalised the additional portfolios to his ministers. He is expected to retain the crucial departments of Home, Finance, Mining and Education.

The big winners are expected to be Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai who is slated to get Forest, Ministers Nilesh Cabral who will get environment, Mauvin Godinho who will tackle Transport and Vishwajit Rane who is expected to get Industries.

The distribution of additional portfolios was due since Sawant took over as the Chief Minister in March. All the ministers, except Goa Forward Party’s Vinod Palyekar, will get additional portfolios. Some ministers, however, are not happy with the new portfolio, which has delayed the notification. 

The Chief Minister’s Office confirmed that Sawant has finalised the portfolios to his Ministers and that the file has been sent to the Law Department for vetting. “The notification will be issued on Monday,” the CMO said.

As per the tentative list, Sardesai’s Forest department is in addition to Town and Country Planning (TCP), Agriculture, Factories and Boilers and Archives and Archaeology.

Deputy Chief Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar, who joined BJP recently and is holding Sports and Tourism, will be given charge of Official Language and Public Grievances.

Cabral, may get Environment, Science and Technology, in addition to Power and Non-conventional Energy. BJP’s Godinho is to be given Transport, besides his existing portfolios of Panchayati Raj, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Protocol and Legislative Affairs.

Another BJP Minister Rane, currently holding Public Health and Women and Child Development, to likely to be alloted Industries and Law and Judiciary.

BJP’s Milind Naik will be given River Navigation and Institute of Public Assistance besides his existing departments of Urban Development and Social Welfare.

Independent Rohan Khaunte, holding Revenue, Labour and Employment and Information Technology is likely to get Planning, Statistics and Evaluation.

Another Independent Govind Gawade is to be given charge of Cooperation besides his existing departments of Art and Culture, Tribal Welfare, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs.

GFP MLA Jayesh Salgaonkar, currently holing Housing, Ports and Rural Development Agency will get Museums.

Former MGP and currently BJP MLA Deepak Pauskar who is holding Public Works is to be given Handicraft, Trade and Coir and Goa Gazeteer.