Cabinet ratifies Narendra Modi's decision to scrap all GoMs, eGoMs

NEW DELHI: The Cabinet on Wednesday ratified Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to scrap all groups of ministers ( GoMs) and empowered groups of ministers ( eGoMs) and entrust the decisions pending before such groups to the ministers concerned.

The Cabinet also approved the constitution of a supervisory committee on the Mullaperiyar dam, to implement the Supreme Court judgment on the dam delivered on May 7. The three-member committee will look into the issues about the safety of the dam restoration of full reservoir level to 142 feet, an official statement said.

GoMs and eGoMs were the UPA government’s preferred route for deferring contentious policy decisions that evoked dissenting opinions among ministers.

“This would expedite the process of decision-making and usher in greater accountability in the system. The ministries and departments will now process the issues pending before the eGoMs and GoMs and take appropriate decisions,” the Prime Minister’s Office has said on May 31. “Wherever the ministries face any difficulties, the Cabinet secretariat and the Prime Minister’s Office will facilitate the decision-making process,” the communiqué had said.

Last month, the SC had asked the Centre to set up a committee to ensure that the full reservoir level is restored to 142 feet and supervise the safety aspects of the 100-year-old dam’s structure.