The new union rural development minister Vilasrao Deshmukh takes charge of the key ministry at a time when the mega Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) 2005 completes mandated five years of implementation within next few weeks.

Deshmukh would lead the rural development ministry which gets the largest annual financial allocation to the tune of more than Rs 50,000 cro

VILLUPURAM: The State government has taken steps on a war-footing to solve problems relating to water supply in deficit areas in Villupuram district, according to K.Ponmudy, Higher Education Minister.

Addressing an official meeting here recently, he said that these measures had been initiated to set right hiccups in water supply at Ginjee, Thiagadurgam, Vikkiravandi, Manalurpettai, Kalavarayan

Jammu: Even as the government claims it has contingency plans ready to overcome water crisis during peak summer days, the state, particularly its dry land (kandi) areas, including the winter capital, may face a real tough time in days to come.

LUCKNOW: After Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam

SHILLONG

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has criticised the Meghalaya government for its failure to provide safe drinking water to the people under various schemes. "The objectives of the schemes remained largely unachieved because of significant shortfall (53 and 45 per cent) in providing safe drinking water to the identified habitations during 2002-2007,' the CAG report stated.