Gujarat gets peace pipes from Russian arms company

The Russian state arms export company, Rosoboronexport, has gifted the Gujarat government 5,600 tons of pipes that will be used to restore c...

The Russian state arms export company, Rosoboronexport, has gifted the Gujarat government 5,600 tons of pipes that will be used to restore critical water distribution systems in the earthquake-affected areas. A Russian cargo ship, Iracu, carrying the pipes worth Rs 15 crore, docked at Kandla Port early this month.

The pipes, made of high-quality pig iron, can be used to restore 100 kilometres of water supply and distribution network in parts of Kutch and Rajkot that were devastated during the earthquake.

Three Russian officials handed over the consignment to officials of the Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board (GWSSB) and later met Chief Minister Narendra Modi and and other officials in Gandhinagar. Board secretary K Kailashnathan said the pipes were of 100m and 300m diameter. Rosoboronexport is primarily an arms manufacturing and exporting company but has branched out into manufacture of high-quality pipes. According to officials, soon after the earthquake, an agreement to this effect had been signed between India and Russia in March 2001.

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Three major banks of Russia— Sberbank, Vneshekonombank and Vneshtorgbank — are also involved in financing this rehabilitation programme. This programme is part of a larger effort by the state government to restore all the critical water supply facilities which were affected in the quake.

Some of the water supply systems are already being reconstructed.