A high-level meeting, attended by top administrators from the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Karnataka and Kerala, and senior officials from the central government, has called for setting up an economic union of southern states for closer inter-state co-ordination to sort out all issues, contentious or otherwise, relating to taxation, subsidies, power sharing, waterways and tourism projects etc.
The meeting of the Standing Committee of Southern Zonal Council, which took place here today, proposed that the southern states tackle the issues of common interest and for all-round development of the region.
Disclosing this at a media conference, the principal secretary (general administration) for Andhra Pradesh, D Muralikrishna, said the day-long meeting had unanimously observed that an economic union of southern states was the need of the hour to synergise the inherent advantages of individual states in the region. "The idea was appreciated by all.
It will take shape in the next meeting of the council," he said. The meeting was attended by chief secretaries from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, and additional chief secretaries from Karnataka, Kerala, besides the central government officials. They are following up on the recommendations of the chief ministers of southern states made at the southern zonal council meeting earlier in Thiruvananthapuram on January 21, 2000.
The southern states had also realised "the need for closer inter-state co-ordination to tackle crime and communal disturbances. It was also agreed upon that the regional co-ordination committee comprising the police chiefs of southern states should meet at least once in three months to take stock of the situation.
With respect to tourism promotion, the meeting decided to work together and operate inter-state tour packages in a co-ordinated manner.
The Wednesday meeting deliberated at length on a host of issues, 24 in all, which are of regional importance and involve prevention of inter-state crimes, beefing up intelligence gathering system, tackling communal disturbances, promotion of exports, tourism, industry etc.
The meeting noted that the union shipping ministry was favourably disposed towards the proposal for an integrated waterways transport system, connecting Kakinada in AP with Mercunam in Tamil Nadu.
