Goa CM Pramod Sawant Allots Additional Portfolios to Ministers; Keeps Home

Panaji: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday allocated additional portfolios to his Cabinet colleagues but kept the crucial home, finance and education departments with himself.

The distribution of additional portfolios was due since mid-March when Sawant took over as chief minister following the demise of Manohar Parrikar, who as CM, was holding charge of over two dozen departments.

All the ministers in the BJP-led coalition government, except Vinod Palyekar of the Goa Forward Party (GFP), a key constituent of the ruling alliance, were given additional portfolios which were till now handled by Sawant. Three Independent MLAs are also ministers.

In addition to his existing portfolios of Town and Country Planning, Archives and Archeology, Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai has been given the forest department, according to a release from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO).

Another Deputy Chief Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar, who is holding Sports and Tourism portfolios, has been given the departments of Official Language and Public Grievances.

Independent MLA and minister Rohan Khaunte, handling Revenue, Labour and Employment and Information Technology, has been given the additional charge of Planning, Statistics and Evaluation, the release said.

Another Independent MLA and minister Govind Gawade has been given the charge of Cooperation besides his existing departments of Art and Culture, Tribal Welfare, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs.

Goa Forward party legislator and minister Jayesh Salgaonkar, currently handling Housing, Port and Rural Development Agency, will also look after the museum department, the CMO release said.

BJP minister Mauvin Godinho will now handle the transport department besides his existing portfolios of Panachayati Raj, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Protocol and Legislative Affairs.

Another BJP minister Vishwajit Rane has been given the charge of Industries, Law and Judiciary in addition to his existing portfolios of Public Health and Women and Child Department, it said.

Milind Naik, also from the BJP, has been given the charge of River Navigation and Institute of Public Assistance besides his existing departments of Urban Development and Social Welfare.

Power Minister Nilesh Cabral, a BJP MLA, has been given the additional portfolio of Science and Technology.

BJP's Deepak Pauskar, currently the Public Works Department Minister, will also look after Handicraft, Trade and Coir and Goa Gazetteer, the release added.