Ministers’ focus on bungalows

Neena Sharma

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Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 20

The newly appointed ministers in the Cabinet of Chief Minister Trivender Singh Rawat are not only keeping a close watch on the portfolio allocation but also on a suitable government accommodation that will be allotted to them according to their entitlement.

Almost all Cabinet ministers and ministers of state have put up their demands before the Estate Office for the possession of a house for the five-year period of their tenure.

With the change of guard and the new BJP government taking over, former cabinet ministers have begin to evict the government accommodations allotted to them at Yamuna Colony.

According to officials in the Department of Estate, former School Education Minister Mantri Prasad Naithani and Health Minister Surinder Singh Negi have already vacated their houses. While other former cabinet ministers are likely to vacate the houses allotted to them in the coming days.

Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal has shown interest in occupying the house vacated by Negi.

Further, officials say, Cabinet Minister Prakash Pant has shown interest in the accommodation that was occupied by former Chief Minister BS Koshiyari and recently vacated by him.

Significantly, Chief Minister Trivender Singh Rawat has not made his choice so far. There are several options before him, including occupying the chief minister house located in the Cantonment area that was last occupied by former chief minister Vijay Bahuguna and shunned by former chief minister Harish Rawat.

Further, Cabinet Minister Satpal Maharaj has not put up his request for accommodation. Minister of State Rekha Arya has expressed her desire to move into A-1 house. All these accommodations are located in Yamuna Colony.

Govind Singh Kunjwal will also have to vacate the house that he occupied as a Speaker, in the previous government. This house has been set aside for the Speaker. The BJP is likely to elect its speaker soon.