Cabinet expansion after Delhi visit: CM

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 23

Chief Minister Harish Rawat today said that the much awaited Cabinet expansion would take place shortly.

Rawat, while addressing mediapersons in Dehradun today, said he would go to Delhi in a day or two and meet the party high command and then the Cabinet expansion would take place.

Asked whether the new ministers will be able to perform as the model code of conduct was expected to come to into force any time after October, the Chief Minister said even a month was enough for a minister willing to perform. Significantly, there are two berths in the Cabinet that are expected to be filled.

The Chief Minister expressed happiness at the state finally getting its budget. He thanked Governor KK Paul for his prompt approval on the matter. He said he had told all secretaries and department heads to ensure proper and speedy utilisation of the budget.

Rawat said all work agencies should have funds at their disposal latest by August 20. All secretaries and department heads had been directed to liaison with bureaucrats at the Centre to ensure funds for Central schemes were utilised. It had been decided to provide funds utilisation certifications to the Centre in time. He added with the budget now at the government disposal, Uttarakhand’s planned development would now be back on track.

Rawat admitted that with the state now in an election year, development schemes need to be implemented speedily.