Panaji, Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the 28th meeting of the Western Zonal Council in Goa on Monday.
He has announced a roadmap to eradicate the narcotics menace from the country as a part of the Viksit Bharat initiative. Shah, who arrived in Goa on Saturday, chaired a crucial meeting of the Union Home Affairs Ministry on Sunday on the issue of a drug-free country. The Western Zonal Council comprises Goa, Gujarat and Maharashtra, along with the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. Shah is the chairman of the Western Zonal Council, while the Goa chief minister is its current vice-chairman. The vice-chairmanship rotates annually among the chief ministers of the member states.
Five zonal councils, including the Western Zonal Council, were established under sections 15 to 22 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Administrator Praful Patel were participating in the meeting, which was also attended by high-ranking officials from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and state governments, officials said. Presentations by the Inter-State Council Secretariat and delegations from the participating states and Union Territories will also form part of the proceedings, the officials said. the councils have emerged as an important platform for mutual understanding and cooperation across sectors, the officials said Although their role is advisory.
