Alina Saldanha gets environment, forest portfolios

Saldanha is the only woman member in the Parrikar cabinet and was assigned the departments after she agreed to head them, the chief minister said.

"I have given environment and forest portfolios to her," Parikkar said.

Saldanha was elected unopposed from Cortalim constituency in the byelection necessitated after demise of her husband Matanhy Saldanha who was minister in the Parrikar cabinet.

She was inducted in the state cabinet last weekend.

Her rivals Raymond D'Sa (Congress) and Ramakant Borkar (Independent) had withdrawn from the fray for the bypoll held on June 4.