Taking charge of the Environment Ministry, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said several key projects in the Ministry were ‘substantially completed’ by his predecessor Uma Bharti.
“It’s as if most of the food was prepared in the kitchen and I’m seated at the dining table,” said Mr. Gadkari, who also holds the road transport and shipping portfolios.
The “food” refers to marquee projects such as the National Mission for Clean Ganga and the Ken-Betwa river interlinking project.
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His remarks come even as Ms. Bharti chose to skip the swearing-in ceremony of Ministers newly inducted into the Cabinet on Sunday. Ms. Bharti said she had prior “pressing” engagements in Jhansi and Lalitpur that couldn’t be avoided.
“I’ve worked with Gadkariji several times and he’s most capable to undertake the required activities,” said Ms. Bharti who jointly addressed a press conference with her Cabinet colleague, Mr. Gadkari.
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Mr. Gadkari on Monday also announced the formation of an inter-ministerial task force, that would include Ms. Bharti.
“Whatever targets have been set by Umaji, we will work towards that,” he said.