Transparency will be our motto: Harish Rawat

New Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Harish Rawat today said transparency would be his government's motto and grappling with the effects of the 2013 flashfloods its foremost challenge.

Addressing his first press conference after being appointed the Chief Minister, Rawat said total transparency would be maintained in governance and asked the media to be watchful so that not even the slightest deviation from the ideal occurred at any level.

"Transparency will be our motto and members of the media fraternity our auditors who will ensure that we don't stray from that path," Rawat said.

Citing the task of pulling the state out of the devastating effects of the natural calamity as his topmost priority, the Chief Minister said the worst affected areas would be divided into separate zones and an official with adequate powers deployed in each of them to quickly address problems of the victims.

Noting that the change of guard in the state should not be interpreted as a change of government, which was being run in "continuity", Rawat said all the previous government's announcements would be implemented.