Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council on August 20 at Mamallapuram, near Chennai, with chief ministers and administrators of southern states and union territories in attendance, the government announced.
The Southern Zonal Council includes the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Keralam, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, alongside the Union Territories of Puducherry, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep. The council is designed to serve as a forum for resolving disputes and addressing issues between the Centre and member states or union territories.
Key ongoing disputes on the agenda include river water sharing between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu and Keralam. In addition to regional matters, the meeting will cover broader issues of national importance, such as Fast Track Special Courts for speedy investigation and early disposal of cases involving crimes against women and children, as well as matters related to education.
Other regional topics of common interest include implementation of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin), and civil aviation issues. Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar confirmed that he will travel to Tamil Nadu to attend the session.
Established under Sections 15 to 22 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, the five Zonal Councils operate on an advisory basis. According to the government, a total of 69 meetings of various Zonal Councils and their Standing Committees have been held over the past roughly 12 years since June 2014 to foster mutual cooperation under the framework of cooperative federalism.
The meeting is being organized by the Inter-State Council Secretariat under the Ministry of Home Affairs, with the Government of Tamil Nadu acting as the host. The event will see participation from chief ministers, lieutenant governors, administrators, two senior ministers from each state, chief secretaries, advisors, and senior central government officials.
"Inter-state councils and structured dialogue platforms play a critical role in maintaining economic stability and operational clarity for businesses across regions. When states coordinate effectively on infrastructure, water sharing, and regulatory frameworks, it creates a more predictable business environment for enterprises operating across multiple states. Collaborative governance directly impacts regional commerce and long-term economic planning." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes
