The Himachal Pradesh government raised several key issues at the 22nd meeting of the Northern Zone Council (NZC) standing committee on Friday. The state demanded the appointment of a full-time member from Himachal in the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), emphasizing its status as a major stakeholder in the board.
Key Demands Raised
The state also raised the allotment of land for Himachal Sadan in Chandigarh's Sector 52 and its share in Chandigarh as a successor state of erstwhile Punjab, referencing a Supreme Court judgment on the matter. Chief Secretary K K Pant chaired the meeting, which saw participation from senior officials of multiple states and union territories.
Inter-State Issues Discussed
A wide range of inter-state issues were discussed, including water and river sharing, food safety, crimes against women and children, narcotics, and disaster management. Pant stated that states would work towards resolving these concerns through a practical and constructive approach, adding that the NZC forum is well-suited to address long-pending disputes.
It was informed that a full-fledged zonal unit of the Narcotics Control Bureau has been made operational in Shimla. Officials said the unit would strengthen coordination between state and central agencies, improve field operations, and enhance inter-state and cross-border monitoring of drug trafficking routes.
Agenda and Participation
A total of 66 agenda items related to inter-state concerns were discussed. The meeting also featured presentations on best practices from NZC states, including three by Himachal Pradesh. The meeting was attended by chief secretaries of Punjab and Haryana, senior officials from Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and Chandigarh, along with representatives from the Union home ministry. The Rajasthan chief secretary attended virtually.
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