Southern states are the pillars of the country’s development.

Chennai : Union Home Minister Amit Shah has suggested that the southern Indian states should resolve their water disputes. He said that these states are the main pillar of the country’s progress. He said that the progress of these states depends on water. He was addressing the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting held near Mahabalipuram in Chengalpattu district of Tamil Nadu. ‘It is not wrong to protect the interests of one’s state. However, when states are facing water shortage for years, it is of no benefit to anyone if that water is wasted in the sea,’ he clarified. He stressed the need to resolve the pending water issues related to the southern states quickly through joint meetings held with the participation of the Central Water Resources, Home Departments, Inter-State Council and the respective states. ‘Five of the 8 issues related to the distribution of river water in North India have been going on since the British era. A final agreement was reached on these five months ago. By linking the major rivers from Brahmaputra to Godavari and Cauvery, the country can avoid water shortage for the next hundred years. This initiative will also help in creating multiple waterways. Not only will it save energy, but it will also improve the environment. It will also create a low-cost transport system,’ he said. Amit Shah praised South India for playing a key role in sectors like IT, automobiles, pharmaceutical manufacturing and infrastructure development, which is why a huge amount of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has come to this region. ‘The development journey of the South is mainly based on three pillars. They are.. high literacy rate, skilled human resources, and technical expertise in the use of marine resources. The people of the South and the governments here have established the best traditions in innovation and increasing income sources. In these two aspects, the entire India should take inspiration from South India,’ he said.