Ministerial responsibilities distributed to minister without portfolio of Lumbini

Lumbini, Aug 2: The ministerial responsibilities have been distributed to eight ministers without portfolio of Lumbini Province today.     

The eight ministers-- four ministers of the CPN (UML) and four from the Nepali Congress had taken oath of office and secrecy as the ministers without portfolio.     

Five minister including Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya and four from the Nepali Congress had had taken oath of office and secrecy on July 24. Chief Minister Acharya allocated the ministerial responsibilities today.     

Responsibility of Ministry for Economic Affairs and Planning has been distributed to Dhanendra Karki of Gulmi, Ministry of Urban Development and Water Supply to Saroj Thapa of Pyuthan, Ministry of Forests and Environment to Badshah Kurmi of Banke and Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Transport to Prachanda Bikram Neupane of Dang of the Nepali Congress, said Spokesperson of Lumbini government and newly appointed Minster for Agriculture and land Management, Dinesh Panthi. The NC is yet to induct a minister in the cabinet.     

Bhumishwar Dhakal from Rupandehi has been assigned as the Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development, Dinesh Panthi of Gulmi has been assigned the responsibility of the Minister for Agriculture and Land Management, Khem Saru of Palpa has been assigned the responsibility of the Health Ministry and Sita Sharma Chaudhary of Dang has been assigned with the responsibility of the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation. They all belong to the CPN (UML) that is leading the provincial government in Lumbini.     

An agreement had been reached before this to divide the 12 ministries in the Lumbini provincial government: UML has five ministries including the Chief Minister post, the Nepali Congress has five ministries and the rest of the ministry portfolios to two small parties.     

The Chief Minister has kept the portfolio of the ministries of internal affairs and law, the ministry of social development and the ministry of women and children to himself.(RSS)