An official press release said here that the councils were formed in accordance with a recommendation of the high-level committee, headed by the local administration minister and comprising legislators from all parties as members, that went into the issue of devolving more powers to local bodies in the state.

In its report, the committee had recommended that a state-level development council be constituted under the chief minister on the lines of the national development council.

The functions of the Tamil Nadu rural development council and the state urban development council will be to discuss policy issues and measures to strengthen the local bodies, besides reviewing the progress of socio-economic development projects and infrastructural facilities.

Both councils will have the ministers in charge ofplanning, finance, local administration and water supply as members, along with a planning commission member, six representatives each from among the heads of local bodies, and the chief secretary. The mini ters in charge of housing, urban development and slum clearance board would be on the urban development council.