No CAC in CM’s absence; administrative powers to be with principal secy

NT NETWORK

PANAJI

Even though Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar will not be present in the state from August 10 to August 17, no Cabinet Advisory Committee (CAC) consisting of ministers will be constituted to look after the affairs of the state administration like the one set up when the Chief Minister was absent from office previously.

The Chief Minister has also refrained from appointing an acting chief minister for the time when he will be out of the country. He has given administrative powers to his Principal Secretary P Krishnamurthy during his week-long absence from the state.

Parrikar will return to the state by August 18.

Sources said that since two ministers – Francis D’Souza and Ramakrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar – who were members of the Cabinet Advisory Committee which was constituted to look after the affairs of the state administration in Parrikar’s absence from March 8 to June 14 are presenting ill, Parrikar has dropped the idea of reconstituting the committee. Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai was the third member of
the CAC.

The Chief Minister had made a balanced arrangement during his absence last time while constituting the CAC by giving representation to BJP, MGP

and Goa Forward on it.

In fact, the Chief Minister will be in touch with his Principal Secretary, the Chief Secretary and other key officials through email, phone and videoconferencing and manage the administration from the US.

Last time when he was in America where he had been undergoing medical treatment for his ailment, the Chief Minister had given powers to his Principal Secretary Krishnamurthy to give approval to important proposals on his behalf with his prior consent.

The government has also authorised Speaker of the Goa legislative assembly Dr Pramod Sawant to unfurl the national flag on Independence Day at the state level function to be held in Panaji on August 15.