Ailing Parrikar appoints 3-member panel to govern Goa in his absence
MUMBAI: Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar has appointed a cabinet advisory committee of three ministers to run the state government during his indefinite leave of absence due to health issues.
Parrikar flew from Panaji to Mumbai on Monday evening to continue his treatment at the city’s Lilavati Hospital. He may even fly abroad for a treatment if instructed to do so by the medical team there, the CM said.
Before leaving, Parrikar sought people’s blessings on Twitter. “I hope you will continue to pray for me, and I will have your blessings as I head for my check-up to Mumbai. If I am advised by the doctors there, I may head for further treatment abroad. As such, I hope you will give me leave for my treatment,” he posted in Konkani.
The three-minister panel set by him comprises public works minister Sudhin Dhavalikar, agriculture minister Vijai Sarde- sai and urban development minister Francis D’souza. While Dhavalikar and Sardesai are the ruling party’s allies from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and the Goa Forward Party respectively, D’souza hails from the Bharatiya Janata Party.
“The chief minister has set up a three-member committee made up of D’souza, Dhavalikar and myself. He said development works shouldn’t get stuck in his absence. The panel can clear projects of up to ₹5 crore. For bigger projects as well as complicated issues, the CM will make himself available through video conferencing,’’ said Sardesai.
Parrikar met senior bureaucrats at his residence earlier in the day. He also held a meeting of party legislators and ministers, although some of his cabinet colleagues had left for Delhi to meet Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Narendra Singh Tomar as part of the ongoing efforts to resolve the impending mining ban in Goa, which is one of the major issues likely to hit the state in Parrikar’s absence.
There was no information on how long Parrikar will be away for his treatment. “While the CM told us of the temporary arrangement, an official order from the chief secretary or the CMO is yet to come. There is no clarity on whether all files can be cleared by this group of ministers, or if it only pertains to development works,’’ said a minister who attended the morning meeting.