Chennai, Aug 21:
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday called for the early resolution of pending water-related disputes among southern states through mutual dialogue and joint meetings involving the Union Ministries of Jal Shakti and Home Affairs, the Inter-State Council and the states concerned.
Speaking at the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting near Mahabalipuram, Shah said protecting the interests of individual states was legitimate, but disputes should not result in water being wasted into the sea while states face shortages.
The southern states agreed with his suggestion to resolve pending water disputes through dialogue and constructive solutions. The remarks assume significance amid continuing differences between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over the Cauvery river and the proposed Mekedatu dam.
Shah said the southern states were the main pillars of India’s progress, but their development was heavily dependent on water. Agriculture, industry, public health and the environment all depended on adequate water availability, he said.
He suggested that linking major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, Ganga, Godavari and Cauvery, could help India address water shortages for decades. Such projects could also facilitate the development of waterways, reduce fuel consumption and provide a cost-effective transportation network, he said.
The Home Minister also highlighted the functioning of the Zonal Councils, saying the Centre had sought since 2014 to transform them into meaningful platforms for resolving inter-state issues. He said 70 meetings had been held since 2014, with 1,445 of 1,869 issuesāaround 80 per centāresolved.
According to Shah, several issues that had remained pending for nearly six decades had been settled through the councils. He contrasted this with the 2004-2014 period, when the councils held an average of 2.5 meetings a year, against six meetings annually since 2014.
He said five of eight long-pending river-water sharing disputes in North India had also been resolved recently, describing the outcome as creating a dispute-free North India in this regard.
On the division of assets and liabilities between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Shah said both states had agreed to resolve the outstanding matters in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The meeting was attended by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, Puducherry Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Lieutenant Governor D. K. Joshi, Lakshadweep Administrator Praful Patel and Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu.
Shah said South India had made major contributions to India’s development in areas ranging from literature and research to space, information technology, artificial intelligence, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure and agriculture. He attributed the region’s success to its high literacy, trained manpower and technical expertise.
He also called for greater attention to malnutrition, stunting and school dropouts. Noting that the national school dropout rate stood at 9.5 per cent, he said states should work to bring it below three per cent.
Shah further urged Chief Ministers to give priority to the speedy investigation and disposal of rape and POCSO cases through Fast Track Special Courts. He said the new criminal laws had provided additional tools to accelerate the criminal justice process.
He also called for coordinated efforts by the Centre and states to build a drug-free India, saying the Union Home Ministry had prepared a three-year roadmap defining the responsibilities of different departments.