Northern Zonal Council discusses security, water sharing

Amit Shah, who heads the Council, presided over the meeting

The Northern Zonal Council deliberated on the issues of internal security, road, transport, industries, water, power, cyber crime and other subjects of common interests for eight northern States and Union Territories at its 30th meeting held here on Saturday. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who heads the Council, presided over the meeting.

The Chief Ministers, Lt. Governors and other functionaries representing the States and Union Territories highlighted the need for mutual coordination in the spirit of cooperative federalism to deal with the emerging threats to internal security. Mr. Shah laid emphasis on an effective cooperation among all States to control organised crime.

In addition to Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Chief Ministers Manohar Lal Khattar and Jai Ram Thakur of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh respectively, Lt. Governors Vinai Kumar Saxena and Radha Krishna Mathur of Delhi and Ladakh respectively, and Punjab Governor and administrator of Chandigarh Banwarilal Purohit attended the meeting. Senior officers from these States were also present.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann skipped the meeting. A government official said that Mr. Mann had confirmed his participation but was represented by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema instead. Apart from the Delhi Lt. Governor, Deputy CM Manish Sisodia represented the National Capital Territory.

No official from Jammu and Kashmir attended the meeting because of the flash floods on the Amarnath Yatra route which have claimed more than a dozen lives so far.

Mr. Shah called upon the States and Union Territories to conduct awareness campaigns on cyber-vigilance through various platforms in view of the impact of cyber crimes on national security, public order and economic activity. He asked the State agencies to use the common software developed by the Home Ministry to work together to identify the issues of concern and trace the offenders.

Mr. Shah also stressed the need to train police officers, public prosecutors and technical services’ agencies, including telecom companies and their point-of-sale agents. He called for the use of information technology tools to detect cyber crime and take systematic measures to prevent their recurrence.