NEW DELHI: The Indian government on Wednesday decided to set up an inter-state council to solve federal state problems and sort out interstate disputes, PTI reports.

The council, set up in line with the Sarkaria commission recommendations, will consist of the prime minister, chief ministers and at least six federal cabinet ministers.

Issues relating to planning and development will, however, continue to be with the national development council.

The structure and composition of the standing committee will be decided after eliciting the views of the chief ministers. Prime Minister V.P Singh has already addressed the chief ministers in this regard.

The interstate council will devise its own procedure for conducting meetings. An official spokesman said the broad idea of having the interstate council was to have an arrangement for mutual consultations on subjects of common interest.

The commission on centre state relations headed by Justice R.S. Sarkaria recommended that the council should consist of a general body assisted by a smaller standing committee.

Article extracted from this publication >> March 16, 1990