Bhubaneswar: In the new council of ministers which took oath today in Odisha, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik retained the portfolios of Home, Water Resources, Public Works and General Administration departments and named Pradip Kumar Amat as the new Finance minister.
Amat, a law graduate and speaker of the outgoing Assembly, was earlier a minister in-charge of Steel and Mines during Patnaik's second tenure between 2004 and 2009. Patnaik has given sensitive Steel and Mines department to Prafulla Kumar Mallik, a first time minister. BJD veteran Damodar Rout is given charge of Excise and Cooperation departments while Debi Prasad Mishra is Industries, School and Mass Education minister. Pipili MLA Pradip Kumar Maharathy is given Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Resources department.
Bijayashree Routray is the new Revenue and Disaster Management minister, while Bikram Kesari Arukh is given Forest, Environment and Parliamentary Affairs. Usha Devi continues to be minister for Women and Child Development, while additionally she has been entrusted with Planning and Coordination portfolio.
Lal Bihari Himirika retained SC, ST Development, Minority and Backward Class Development department. Jogendra Behera, also a first timer, is minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises; Pension and Public grievance.
Badri Narayan Patra is new Rural Development minister, while Pushpendra Singhdeo has been given the department of Housing and Urban Development.
