Ranchi/Delhi, 10 July (H.S.): Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached Ranchi on wednesday night to chair the Eastern Zonal Council meeting today. Approximately 70 representatives from Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, and West Bengal are expected at the meeting, which will take place at the Radisson Blu Hotel at 11 am.Amit Shah arrived at Birsa Munda Airport around 10 pm under heavy security. The zonal councils, established under the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, include chief ministers and administrators from member states and Union territories, with the Union home minister serving as chairperson.

Significant security measures were implemented in Ranchi for the meeting. Agenda items include expediting investigations of sexual offences, implementing fast-track special courts, ensuring banking facilities in every village, and deploying the Emergency Response Support System. Additionally, issues related to education, health, electricity, urban planning, and cooperative systems are also anticipated to be discussed.

Attending from Jharkhand are Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore, Minister Deepak Birua, Chief Secretary Alka Tiwari, Principal Secretary (Home) Vandana Dadel, and DGP Anurag Gupta. Soren returned to Ranchi from New Delhi to be a part of the meeting. Bihar's representation includes Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary and Minister Vijay Choudhary, while Odisha's Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Deputy CM Parvati Parida are also in attendance. West Bengal is represented by Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya.

Jharkhand plans to highlight the issue of Rs 1.36 lakh crore in pending dues from public sector undertakings like Coal India related to mining activities. The meeting, previously scheduled for May 10, was postponed due to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. Amit Shah is also expected to push for the restoration of Security Related Expenditure (SRE) funding for 17 districts previously affected by Left-Wing Extremism (LWE).

Ranchi police have released a traffic advisory that restricts vehicle movement on major roads starting at 8 am ensuring smooth transit for attendees.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar