Full EC visiting Bangalore today to review preparations for Assembly polls

Apr 8,  1:47 PM The full Election Commission, including Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath and Election Commissioners H S Brahma and SNA Zaidi is visiting Bangalore today on a two days tour for the review of Assembly election preparations. They will hold a meeting with representatives of all political parties for hearing their grievances or complaints. The Commission will hold a meeting of top election officials tomorrow and discuss their poll preparedness for conducting free and fair polls in Karnataka. The Commission will also discuss steps to check the use of money power in elections besides checking paid news and other poll malpractices. Centre to States: Speed up implementing special area development programmes Apr 8,  1:47 PM The Centre today urged the States to speed up implementing special area development programmes to increase socio-economic infrastructure in Minority-inhabited poor areas. Addressing a conference of Principal Secretaries and Secretaries to review implementation of the Multi-Sectoral Development and Prime Minister's 15-Point Programmes in New Delhi, Minority Affairs Minister Rehman Khan expressed unhappiness at the slow progress of implementation of Minority-welfare schemes and initiatives. He called on the States to proactively engage with the Centre to extend their full support and cooperation to reach the benefits of the schemes to the target population. Khan pointed out that monitoring committees at the district and block levels are nearly inactive and pressed them to immediately ensure proper implementation of the benefit schemes do dispel the impression that the government's efforts have failed to impact beneficiaries' lives. He asked the committees to involve panchayats, urban local bodies, NGOs and locals to enhance cooperation in implementing the development and welfare programmes. The Minority Affairs Minister informed that the Centre is working on restructuring the MsDP and modify the Prime Minister's 15-Point Programme by including more schemes in the latter. 5 day long India Water Week 2013 starts Apr 8 Five-day long India Water Week 2013 began today to create awareness on efficient water management. President Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate Water Week Conference at the Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi this evening. A Water Expo will also be simultaneously held showcasing latest technological solutions to improve water management efficiency in the various sectors including agriculture, irrigation, water supply and energy generation. AIR correspondent reports, the Water Resources ministry is organizing India Water Week to create awareness about the limited availability of Water resources. Water, the most crucial natural resource is inevitable for socio-economic development. There is an urgent need to utilize water resources efficiently to save water and conserve it for future generation. The availability situation of water is alarming, and the present level of awareness is not commensurate with the gravity of the consequential situation. Director General of National Water Development Agency and member of Central Water Commission, A B Pandya says optimal use of water is crucial to address the emerging water crisis. He said Water Week is a message to the world on the huge challenges in the water sector. Although water is a renewable resource, it is also a finite one. It is high time for policies to focus on conserving the scarce natural resource with invaluable social economic value. Every drop saved would go a long way for the prosperity and well being of mankind.