Explanation:

The meeting of Northern zonal council chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah was attended by the Rajasthan Chief minister.

The chief minister of Rajasthan raised various issues and demands which affect the people, economy and governance of the state.

During the meeting, the Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot once again raised the demand of grant of national project status to the state's ambitious East Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP).

The state has also demanded Centre to create posts for member from Rajasthan in Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).

Talking about the East Rajasthan Canal Project, the state government has said that it is an ambitious project of Rs 37,247 crore which will benefit 13 districts of the state, namely Jhalawar, Baran, Kota, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Tonk, Jaipur, Dausa, Karauli, Alwar, Bharatpur and Dholpur.

The chief minister also demanded that more rights should be given to state governments to control cooperative societies.

The chief minister of Rajasthan on the occasion also urged the Central government to revise the funding pattern to 90:10 (centre-state share) for the execution of schemes under Jal Jeevan Mission in view of the geographical challenges in Rajasthan.

Issues on internal security, road, transport, industries, water, power and other issues of common interests were discussed in the meeting.

The Northern Zonal Council comprises Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, National Capital Territory of Delhi and Union Territory of Chandigarh.

The idea of creation of Zonal Councils was mooted by the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru in 1956.

During the course of debate on the report of the States Re-organisation Commission, he suggested that the States proposed to be reorganised may be grouped into four or five zones having an Advisory Council “to develop the habit of cooperative working” among these States.

In the light of the vision of Pandit Nehru, five Zonal Councils were set up vide Part-III of the States Re-organisation Act, 1956.