Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair the 27th meeting of the Western Zonal Council at Pune, Maharashtra tomorrow. The Western Zonal Council comprises the states of Gujarat, Goa, and Maharashtra, and the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.

The zonal council will discuss broad issues related to infrastructure, mining, the environment and forests, food security parameters, and other subjects of common interest at the regional level.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stressed the need to leverage cooperative and competitive federalism for the all-round development of the country. The zonal councils provide a platform to enhance cooperation through a systematic mechanism for regular dialogue and discussion on issues affecting two or more states or the Centre and the States. Mr. Shah has also stressed the cooperative federalism approach to empower states and promote better understanding between the Centre and the states.