Madhya Pradesh CM takes over Animal Husbandry Department after portfolio withdrawn from Lakhan Patel
Bhopal, July 15
The Madhya Pradesh government on Wednesday carried out a Cabinet reshuffle, with Chief Minister Mohan Yadav taking charge of the Animal Husbandry Department.
The department has been withdrawn from Minister of State (Independent Charge) Lakhan Patel and will now be directly handled by the Chief Minister.
Following the reshuffle, Lakhan Patel will continue to hold charge of the Anand Department.
On Tuesday, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Yadav chaired a cabinet meeting held at Mantralaya in Bhopal, and the council of ministers gave the nod to several proposals worth Rs 10,800 crore aimed at strengthening infrastructure, urban development, irrigation and public welfare across the state.
Among the major decisions, the Cabinet approved Rs 8,445 crore for urban infrastructure development over the next five years to accelerate the transformation of cities.
To facilitate procurement of moong beyond the Government of India's target under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) for the Rabi Marketing Season 2024-25 (Rabi Year 2023-24), the Cabinet approved an interest-free government guarantee of Rs 1,587 crore.
Under the decision, the State Government will provide an interest-free government guarantee of Rs 396 crore for the outstanding credit limit availed from Punjab National Bank for a period of six months, from July 19, 2026, to January 18, 2027. An interest-free government guarantee of Rs 1,191 crore for the outstanding credit limit availed from the State Bank of India for a period of one year, from July 3, 2026, to July 2, 2027.
The cabinet further sanctioned Rs 245.45 crore for the continuation of the Water Resources Department's Kundaliya Major Irrigation Project in Rajgarh district during the 16th Central Finance Commission period, from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2031.
The project aims to create irrigation potential over 1.39 lakh hectares in Rajgarh and Agar-Malwa districts through the construction of a dam and the implementation of a micro-irrigation system.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Mixed feelings about this reshuffle. While the Rs 8,445 crore for urban development sounds promising, I'm concerned about why the CM is micromanaging a department like Animal Husbandry. Shouldn't he focus on bigger issues? Also, Lakhan Patel being reduced to just the Anand Department seems like a demotion. But the moong procurement guarantee is a good move for farmers in Rabi season.
As an outsider, I find this fascinating - the CM directly taking over a department. In the US, such moves are rare. But the focus on infrastructure and irrigation seems pragmatic. The Kundaliya project covering 1.39 lakh hectares is massive. Hope the micro-irrigation systems are properly maintained.
This is classic political management. CM Yadav wants to keep tabs on a sensitive department while giving Patel a face-saving portfolio. The Rs 1,587 crore guarantee for moong procurement is a lifeline for farmers in this tight market. But I wonder if the animal husbandry sector will get the attention it needs. Cattle health is crucial for rural livelihoods. 🐄
The infrastructure decisions look solid - Rs 8,445 crore for urban development over 5 years is ambitious. But I'm skeptical about the timing. Is this election-driven? The irrigation project in Rajgarh is welcome, but micro-irrigation systems have failed in other states due to poor maintenance. Hope MP learns from those mistakes.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.