Change in Ministerial Portfolios - Acharya, Shobha Get Additional Charge

Bangalore, Dec 11 (PTI): Higher Education Minister V S Acharya was today given additional portfolio of Information Technology and Biotechnology, held by Katta Subramanya Naidu, who quit in the wake of an alleged land scam.

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board will now be under Urban Development Minister S Suresh Kumar, a Rajbhavan communique said.

According to the communique, Energy Minister Shobha Karandlaje has been given additional charge of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs.

The Housing portfolio has been allocated to V Somanna, who has been divested of the department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs.

The Housing and BWSSB departments were also with Naidu before he resigned after his name figured in an FIR lodged against him by the Lokayukta over a land deal.

Naidu, a trusted aide of chief minister BS Yeddyurappa had resigned on December 3, becoming the first political casualty of the land scam charges haunting the BJP government in the state.