June 22: Chief minister Tarun Gogoi has entrusted PWD and urban development minister Ajanta Neog with the additional responsibility of the Guwahati development department (GDD), ostensibly to bring about “much-needed synergy” between the three works departments.

Chief secretary N.K. Das had issued the official communiqué to this effect on June 20 — on the eve of Gogoi’s departure to the US on an official trip — but it went public only this afternoon, creating a flutter in bureaucratic and Congress circles, as it not only sees Neog getting additional responsibility, but also signals her growing importance in Gogoi’s scheme of things.

Neog, a senior cabinet minister whose husband was killed by Ulfa, responded to the development by admitting to The Telegraph she has more than a challenge on her hands given the city’s varied and pressing problems, beginning with drainage, waterlogging, drinking water problem, traffic and encroachment.

“It is a big responsibility entrusted to me by our chief minister. I take it as a challenge and will try to fix the problems faced by the city by involving its people. I will do my best to deliver as expected but it will take some time,” Neog said from Sivasagar this afternoon. She will return to Guwahati on Monday.

Neog steps into the shoes of Gogoi, who had of late taken active interest in the affairs of the city, from sweeping the streets to going after illegal and haphazard construction. On May 19, upset over rampant building violations in the city, Gogoi had asked authorities to take “corrective” action to ensure sustainable development.

Gogoi, who had initially held the portfolio after assuming power in 2001, had made incumbent health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma the GDD minister in the latter part of his first term. Sarma continued till the 2011 Assembly elections.

“She is the third person to hold charge of the department after Gogoi and Sarma. She will really have to work hard and ensure implementation of the policies. But the good thing about the development is that all the three departments are with Neog. It will help in better coordination and execution. It will also be tricky as most projects get delayed owing to lack of support from locals,” an official said.

Her immediate priorities, officials said should be taking steps to secure and implement projects such as the stormwater drainage, sewerage, water supply, urban transport, traffic decongestion, officials said.

GDD is said to be ready with new building bylaws, which will be declared soon for public response.

The challenge will also include negotiating the city’s political landscape, which has four well-entrenched MLAs, most of whom are from the city. Neog is from Golaghat in Upper Assam.

“A lot of persuasive skills will also be required to deliver in Guwahati as there will be lot of political pull and pressure. There are a lot of problems but a focused approach will help. She has started well by saying that she wants to involve all in Guwahati’s development,” a local Congress leader said.

, adding that she was sounded out on her new assignment in March-April itself.

“She was wary given her other responsibilities but could not say no to Gogoi,” he went on to add, trying to convey the importance of the minor reshuffle.