India would expand its deep sea mining capabilities for sub serving its critical and strategic needs of the country, particularly in areas of access to under sea rare earths materials.  Briefing newsmen after Chairing a high level meeting in Planning commission today, the Minister of State for Planning, Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Mr. Ashwini Kumar said, deep sea mining capabilities are being enhanced through vessels including Sagar Nidhi to explore at a depth of 6000 mtrs from sea surface. He said, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research is also getting a vessel manufactured at Surat at a cost of 200 crore rupees. The Geological Survey of India is also acquiring a vessel at the cost of 550 crore rupees from a Korean Shipyard which is likely to be inducted by September 2013. He said, the deep sea mining capabilites are at present the privilege of a few countries including the United States and China. Mr. Aswini Kumar also said, a concrete action plan is being drawn out to upgrade India's super computing facilities. He said, the country is also poised for a jump in its futuristic scientific capabilities including Super Microscope, Carbon Capture and Storage, Ocean Acidification and Interstellar Chemistry. Mr. Aswini Kumar said, the advanced super computing facilities will tremendously enhance the accuracy of Weather predictions. On the current status of the Monsoon, he said, the Met Department has informed that that pre monsoon showers are expected in the next 4-5 days in noth west India putting at rest the fears of a dry spell. He also said, the conditions are favourable for the advancement of the monsoon. In reply to a question on the economic situation in the country, Mr. Aswini Kumar said, under the able guidance of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh a definite action plan is being implemented to regain faster economic growth. He said, the signs are already showing with the strengthening of the Rupee and improvement of sentiments in the Stock Markets.

Tomato Genome Consortium, TGC, a group of over 300 scientists from fourteen countries including India, has sequenced the genomes of the domesticated tomato and its wild ancestor, Solanum pimpinellifolium. 

Announcing this at a press conference in New Delhi today, Secretary in the Department of Biotechnology M K Bhan said, the genome sequencing is expected to lower costs and speed up efforts to improve the worldwide tomato production and make it better equipped to combat pests, pathogens, drought and diseases affecting the vegetable. 
Speaking about a revelation made in a recent study by the department about using zinc in addition to standard antibiotics in treating new born children with bacterial infection, Mr Bhan said it will help in saving newborns provided its outcome is put into proper application. It can also reduce possibility of treatment failure of the children within seven days of birth or death within 21 days.

Indian scientists have developed a technology for purifying and filtering contaminated water using nano-silver particles. Nano-silver coated ceramic candles are now available in the market to obtain pure water. 

These candles have been developed by the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials,
Hyderabad. 

Giving this information in the Lok Sabha today, Science and Technology Minister Ashwani Kumar said IIT-Madras has also developed a similar method using nano-silver particles with other compounds for purifying and filtering contaminated water. 

In reply to another question, the House was informed that the per capita availability of water in the country is 1545 cubic meters as per the 2011 census. It is coming down fast because of the increase in population.