Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday chaired the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, bringing together the governments of five southern states and representatives of the Union Territories to discuss long-pending inter-state issues, regional development and internal security.
The meeting included the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala, along with the Deputy Chief Minister of Telangana and senior representatives from Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep. The council serves as an important platform for states and the Centre to resolve issues through dialogue and strengthen cooperative federalism.
A major focus of the meeting was the need to resolve long-pending disputes over the sharing and management of river waters. Shah called for faster solutions to inter-state water disputes and suggested greater cooperation among states. He also mooted the possibility of linking major river systems, including the Brahmaputra, Godavari and Cauvery, as part of a broader approach to addressing water shortages and improving water management.
The Home Minister also highlighted the contribution of southern India to the country’s economic growth. He stressed that the region’s achievements in innovation, industry and revenue generation could provide lessons for the rest of the country. The discussions reflected the importance of coordinated development and better cooperation between the Centre and states.
Apart from water-related matters, the meeting also discussed issues connected with infrastructure, education, healthcare, environmental protection and regional security. Crimes against women and children and the need for faster investigations and stronger institutional mechanisms were among the broader issues considered during the discussions.
Delimitation was another politically significant issue surrounding the meeting. The subject has become particularly sensitive in southern states, where concerns have been raised about the possible impact of population-based delimitation on their political representation. The meeting therefore provided an important platform for southern leaders to put forward their concerns and discuss matters of national importance.
Andhra Pradesh also raised several issues linked to the state’s reorganisation, including the division of assets and liabilities, pending financial matters and infrastructure projects. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was expected to seek further assistance from the Centre on projects related to ports, railways, airports and industrial corridors.
The meeting concluded with an emphasis on cooperation between the Centre and southern states. Officials described the discussions as an opportunity to address common challenges and promote development across the region. With water disputes, infrastructure, security and political representation continuing to shape relations between states, the Southern Zonal Council remains an important forum for finding solutions through consultation rather than confrontation.
