Portfolios allotted to Meghalaya ministers

Shillong, August 27 (PTI): Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has alloted portfolios to newly inducted cabinet ministers Martin M Dangngo and Ronnie V Lyngdoh.  

Danggo was given charge of Public Work Department (Roads) replacing Sniawbhalang Dhar while Ronnie got the Urban Affairs department held by Ampareen Lyngdoh, with additional charge of Soil & Water Conservation, according to the official list of portfolios released today.   Dangngo, former Assembly Speaker, and Government Chief Whip Lyngdoh had taken oath as ministers yesterday.   In a bid to contain infighting among Congress legislators, Sangma on August 25 dropped Deputy Chief Minister Rowell Lyngdoh and Health Minister A L Hek to accommodate Danggo and Lyngdoh.   Deputy Chief Minister Roytre C Laloo was relieved from Education and PHE portfolios and is given charge of Food & Civil Supplies department.   Senior minister HDR Lyngdoh got the Home department, a portfolio he had held earlier.   Former Community and Rural Development Minister Prestone Tynsong has been allotted the PHE and Border Area Development departments.   Dhar, who was stripped off the PWD department, was given charge of Power and Community and Rural Development departments.   Former Power Minister Clement Marak will head the Forest and Environment and Social Welfare while Zenith Sangma was awarded the Taxation portfolio.   While former Home minister Roshan Warjri will be heading the health and Higher & Technical Education departments, former Urban Development Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh will be new minister in-charge of IPR, IT and PWD (Buildings).   Former Social Welfare Minister Deborah Marak, who was stripped off of the working president's post in the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee, was given charge of education and Secretariat Administration Department besides printing and stationery.   This was also the first major reshuffle by Sangma after the Assembly elections two years ago.