Meghalaya government re-allocates portfolios

Shillong, May 16 (UNI) The Meghalaya government has allocated portfolios to newly inducted minister Mr Zenith M Sangma and made minor changes in the portfolios of Deputy Chief Minister Dr Donkupar Roy.

Mr Z M Sangma, who was yesterday inducted into the ministry in place of Mr Beckstar K Sangma, was given the charge of Community and Rural Development.

He was also given the ministries of Mass and Elementary Education, Reorganisation and Stamps. Besides, the ministry of Election was transferred to him from Deputy Chief Minister Dr Roy.

Dr Roy was given the charge of Non Conventional Energy Sources, which was earlier headed by Mr Beckstar K Sangma.

Mr Beckstar K Sangma had to resign on Sunday following pressure from party colleagues and opposition over the issue of misappropriation of funds.

Mr Zenith M Sangma was brought into the ministry as replacement and was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor M M Jacob at a brief ceremony here yesterday.

Mr Beckstar K Sangma, who was inducted into the Cabinet on December 8 last year, allegedly siphoned off about Rs 50 lakh meant for housing development projects in Garo Hills.

The embezzlement of funds was unearthed when the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP and former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno A Sangma, as chairman of Central Vigilance and Monitoring Committee, had a review of the development schemes in the area.

He had submitted the details of his findings to the state government through a memorandum.

However, Chief Minister D D Lapang asserted that no charges against Mr Beckstar Sangma were proved and he tendered his resignation for smooth conduct of the inquiry.

''No charges have been proved against him and there was no pressure on him. He resigned so that the inquiry can be conducted smoothly,'' Mr Lapang said yesterday after the swearing-in ceremony of the new minister.

''The government has already ordered a ministerial inquiry into the charges of misappropriation of funds. We will wait for the report,'' said the newly inducted minister.

''Improving the deteriorating power situation in the state and environmental issues will be high in my priority as a minister.

Besides, I will also focus on infrastructure development,'' he said.

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