Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday chaired the 28th meeting of the Western Zonal Council in Goa, with senior leaders and officials from the participating states and Union Territory taking part in the discussions.
The meeting was held at a hotel near Panaji and began at around 11 am. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Administrator Praful Patel attended the meeting along with senior officials from the Union Home Ministry and the respective state governments.
The Western Zonal Council includes Goa, Gujarat and Maharashtra, along with the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. The council is chaired by the Union Home Minister, while the vice-chairmanship rotates annually among the chief ministers of the member states.
The meeting is expected to focus on inter-state coordination, cooperative governance and the sharing of best practices among the participating states and the Union Territory. Presentations by the Inter-State Council Secretariat and delegations from the member states and UT are also part of the proceedings.
The five zonal councils, including the Western Zonal Council, were established under Sections 15 to 22 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. Although the councils have an advisory role, they provide a platform for states and the Centre to discuss common concerns and improve coordination.
Issues raised by individual states are initially examined by the Standing Committee of the council, which comprises chief secretaries. Matters that remain unresolved are subsequently placed before the full Zonal Council for discussion.
Shah is on a three-day visit to Goa. He arrived in the state on Saturday and chaired a key meeting of the Union Home Affairs Ministry on Sunday focusing on efforts to make India free from drugs.
The Home Minister has outlined a roadmap to tackle the country’s narcotics problem as part of the government’s broader Viksit Bharat initiative.
Monday’s meeting provides an additional platform for the Centre and western states to coordinate on issues that require joint action and cooperation. Officials said such meetings are important for strengthening mutual understanding and encouraging collaboration across different sectors.
Reader Comments 0