Tamil Nadu News

Southern Zonal Council meeting update

August 22 , 2026 1 hrs 0 min 8 0

The 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting was held at Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu, and was chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister said southern States contribute over 30% of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and called for fair and equitable treatment in fiscal devolution.
He said the next Finance Commission should consider both the needs and performance of States, including development, fiscal discipline and demographic transition.
He called for greater flexibility for States in taxation after the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and referred to Article 279A(4)(e) of the Constitution.
On inter-State rivers, he stressed protecting the rights of lower-riparian States and implementing Supreme Court judgments, tribunal awards and statutory mechanisms; he also highlighted the Cauvery and Mullai Periyar issues.
He proposed common economic and logistics clusters among southern States, citing the proposed Bengaluru Metro extension from Bommasandra to Hosur, and called for greater focus on the maritime economy and Blue Economy.