Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah led the 27th Eastern Zonal Council meeting in Ranchi, stressing the spirit of cooperative federalism and India’s vision to become a fully developed nation by 2047.
Attended by chief ministers and senior officials from Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal, the meeting focused on inter-state infrastructure issues, criminal law implementation, and skill development reforms.
Shah highlighted the transformation of zonal councils from advisory platforms to engines of cooperation, citing an 83% resolution rate of over 1,500 discussed issues since 2014.
Among the key issues were the settlement of asset disputes between Bihar and Jharkhand, especially concerning PSUs, and long-pending water resource matters, including Masanjore Dam and Indrapuri Reservoir. Shah urged Eastern states to implement three new criminal laws swiftly and modernise district-level narcotics control.
On the security front, Shah praised Operation Sindoor and reiterated the commitment to eliminate Naxalism nationwide by March 31, 2026. He noted that Odisha, Jharkhand, and Bihar have significantly progressed toward this goal.
The Council also tackled national development themes such as nutrition, education, and ERSS-112, calling for region-specific skill courses and enhanced urban planning.
