Goa CM reshuffles ministry

Panaji, Oct 4 (IANS) In a minor reshuffle on Sunday, Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar divested Alina Saldanda of the environment and forest ministry, allotting it to Rajendra Arlekar, who was inducted into the cabinet as the 12th minister on Thursday.

Saldhana, who already holds the science and technology and museum portfolios, has now been allotted rural development ministry.

Saldanha was in the news for publicly opposing key tourism and infrastructure related projects which needed permission and certification from the environment and forests ministry.

Arlekar, a former speaker, was also allotted the panchayat ministry, while the ministry for information and publicity was divested from Milind Naik.

Naik retains the power, non conventional energy, legal meterology and official language ministries.

The reshuffle of portfolios was necessitated following the induction of Arlekar, a legislator from Pernem in North Goa, in the cabinet.

The berth fell vacant after the jailing of Francisco Pacheco, who was sentenced in June to six months imprisonment in connection with a 2009 assault case.