From Finance, WCD to Vigilance: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta gets key departments under her belt

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta during her oath-taking ceremony at Ramlila Maidan. (Express photo by Amit Mehra)

Gupta is also heading the Vigilance department, which, over the past five years, opened several inquiries against AAP ministers. The BJP has promised to set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into allegations of corruption in the government over the past 10 years.

Two significant portfolios – PWD and water have gone to Parvesh Sahib Singh. The responsibility of the two departments also puts him at the centre of fulfilling major promises made by the BJP in the run-up to the polls.

One was to fix the road infrastructure in the city.  According to sources, directions to prepare a plan to repair arterial roads were given soon after the BJP won, even though the Council of Ministers had not been appointed.

Part of the promise to clean the Yamuna and the riverfront will also be Sahib Singh’s responsibility as water minister. While work related to the Yamuna falls mostly under the Delhi Development Authority, projects such as trapping untreated sewage before it enters the river – a key component of cleaning the river – come under the water department and the Delhi Jal Board. He will also be responsible for ensuring that the problems of residents who have been complaining of getting dirty water at home are addressed.

Key departments such as education and power, which were at the centre of AAP’s politics and policies, have been given to Ashish Sood. He will also head the Home department.

Vikaspuri MLA Pankaj Kumar Singh, meanwhile, has been allotted the Health & Family Welfare and Transport departments. An assessment has already been ordered by officials into Delhi’s Mohalla Clinics, which will soon be renamed Arogya Mandir, sources said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta and Cabinet Ministers greet people at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi. (Express photo by Amit Mehra)

Ravinder Indraj Singh, the only Dalit face in the Cabinet, has been entrusted with the Social Welfare, SC & ST Welfare, Cooperative Societies and Elections departments. Sources said he will be looking at schemes that were started for Dalit students by AAP but either did not take off or were non-functional to assess the need for revamp.

The Sikh face in the Cabinet, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, has been given the Forest & Environment and Industries departments. This will put him in the spotlight, especially in the winter months, when Delhi’s pollution touches toxic levels. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), which keeps a check on Yamuna’s pollution levels and issues challans and fines to industries for failing to meet emission norms, will also come under Sirsa.

On Thursday, he was the only one to speak to reporters at the Yamuna’s Vasudev Ghat, where he said that the promises made by the BJP will be fulfilled and excuses will not be made.

The only second-time minister in the cabinet, Kapil Mishra, will once again shoulder the responsibility of the Art & Culture, Language and Tourism departments, alongside heading the key departments such as Law & Justice, Labour and Employment.