Chennai, Aug 20 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting at a luxury hotel in Tamil Nadu's Kovalam near Mamallapuram on Thursday. HM Shah arrived in Chennai from New Delhi by a special aircraft around 9 p.m. on Wednesday to attend the high-level meeting. The Southern Zonal Council and its standing committee will meet at the same venue from 10.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.He is the chairman of the council, while Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay will preside over the standing committee. The meeting is expected to focus on cooperation among southern states, internal security, economic development, industrial investment, water-sharing disputes, education and healthcare. The establishment of special fast-track courts to expedite cases involving sexual offences against women and children will also figure in the discussions.Officials said the zonal councils play an important role in strengthening coordination between the Union and State governments and resolving inter-state issues through dialogue. Their functioning is aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on cooperative federalism and the “Team India” approach to national development.

Several politically sensitive matters are expected to be raised during the deliberations. These include the proposed delimitation of parliamentary constituencies, the Cauvery River water-sharing dispute and Karnataka’s Mekedatu dam project.The conference is also likely to review pending infrastructure projects and measures to improve connectivity across the southern region.Officials are expected to discuss ways to strengthen intelligence sharing, curb drug trafficking and enhance coordination during natural disasters. Proposals relating to fisheries, coastal security and the implementation of centrally sponsored welfare programmes may be taken up by the participating governments during the session.Tamil Nadu is also expected to raise the recent shooting incident near the inter-state border in which three men from the state were killed, allegedly in firing by Karnataka forest personnel. The Tamil Nadu government has sought a detailed investigation into the incident and action against those responsible.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan are scheduled to attend the meeting. Puducherry Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan, the Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, representatives from Lakshadweep and senior officials from the participating States and Union Territories will also take part in the deliberations.

/IANS