Chidamabaram wants Zonal Councils help resolve inter-state disputes

NEW DELHI - The Union Home Minister, P. Chidambaram, has called upon the States to use the forum of Zonal Councils to resolve inter-State disputes instead of taking ecourse to litigation.

As the Chairman of the Zonal Councils, Mr. Chidambaram was addressing here today the 19th meeting of the Central Zonal Council comprising the States of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday .

Chidambaram said that in case there are issues requiring urgent attention, the member States could request for fixing an early meeting of the Council.

In response to a request made by some States for training of personnel in their Special Branches, Mr. Chidambaram said the Intelligence Bureau has increased its training capacity and can offer some slots to the States.

On the request of some States to sanction more India Reserve Battalions, he said that the vacancies existing in State police forces should be filled up before the request for sanctioning new IR Battalions can be considered.

The member States, during today’s meet, informed the Council about the steps taken by them to strengthen the security apparatus. They also discussed various developmental issues including road connectivity in the Naxal-affected and border areas.

The Uttarakahand delegation was headed by Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, the Uttar Pradesh delegation by the Minister for Vocational Education, Laxmi Narayan, the Chhattisgarh delegation by the Minister for Home, Nanki Ram Kanwar and the Madhya Pradesh delegation by the Minister for Finance, Raghavji.

The Zonal Councils, five in number, are statutory bodies which have been set up under the States Re-organisation Act, 1956 to provide a common meeting ground to the States and Urban Territories in each zone for resolution of inter-State and Zonal problems, fostering balanced socio-economic regional development and building harmonious Centre-State relations. (ANI)