Southern Zonal Council members meet in Hyderabad

Top officials from southern states and bureaucrats from the Centre met here today and discussed a host of issues ranging from environment, rural development to Goods and Services Tax (GST).
They were here for the 8th meeting of the Standing Committee of Southern Zonal Council, whose members are Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
The conclave was "facilitated" by the Secretary, Inter -State Council Secretariat, Union Ministry of Home Affairs, an official release said.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary of Telangana. Chief Secretaries of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Additional Chief Secretary of Kerala and Adviser to Union Home Minister also took part.

Senior officers from the member states and representatives of about 14 ministries/departments of the Central government attended the gathering, it said.
The committee discussed several important issues such as poverty alleviation, environment, rural development, road transport, housing, railways, power transmission, industrial corridor, GST and tourism, among others, the release said.

The meeting concluded after identifying the agenda items to be placed before the Southern Zonal Council, which will further deliberate on them in the coming weeks, whose members include chief ministers.
The idea of creation of Zonal Councils (Northern, Central, Eastern, Western and Southern) was mooted by first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and they were set up in 1956. They are headed by Union Home Minister with Chief Ministers, among others, as their members.

The Zonal Councils, which act as advisory bodies, provide an excellent forum where irritants between Centre and states and amongst states can be resolved through free and frank discussions and consultations.