New tenure for CAC comes with Rs 10 crore financial powers

PANAJI: Chief minister Manohar Parrikar, on Thursday extended the term of the cabinet advisory committee (CAC) from April 1 to April 30.
Parrikar, before leaving to the US for treatment, had constituted the three-member committee comprising urban development minister Francis D’Souza, PWD minister Ramkrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar, and TCP minister Vijai Sardesai, and left it in-charge of the state’s administration in his absence.

Chief secretary Dharmendra Sharma told TOI that the CM has made two modifications to the earlier order of March 6. The CM has increased the financial power to clear developmental work from Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore for each minister. The CAC’s power to sanction funds for emergency financial needs has been upped from Rs 5 crore to Rs 10 crore. “All other conditions remain the same,” Sharma said.

CM will preside over committee meetings through video conferencing or by circulation. In case he is unable to do so, he will nominate a minister. The agenda will be fixed by the chief secretary after consulting principal secretary to CM. The chief secretary will place important matters concerning Parrikar’s departments before the committee for recommendation and send the same for the CM’s approval.