IZHEVSK. Jan 30 (Interfax-AVN) - In 2004, RUB2.7bn (USD94.57m) will be allocated to build a chemical weapons disposal facility in Kambarka, Udmurtia, as part of the Russian chemical weapons disposal program.
Russian Ammunition Agency Director General Viktor Kholstov, President of Udmurtia Alexander Volkov, the heads of the republic's ministries and departments and representatives of construction and design organizations were present at a conference in Kambarka where the government's plans were announced.
A source in the republic's government told Interfax it will cost approximately RUB6bn (USD210.16m) to build the chemical weapons disposal facility. It is planned to finish building the plant by the end of 2005, and in 2006, disposal of lewisite will begin.
Kambarka's infrastructure will also be developed. This year, RUB260m (USD9.11m) will be transferred from the budget to the town for housing and social facility construction and gas supply.
"Besides convincing the Russian prime minister that it is necessary to finance the town's social facilities, we managed to raise the amount of financing by almost RUB300m (USD10.51m). This makes the social side of the project quite considerable," said Udmurtia's president.
Following the meeting, a list of social facilities that will receive budget financing was approved. Some RUB300m will be spent on renovating boiler houses and linking homes to gas lines. Road building and restoration will take up RUB100m (USD3.5m). In addition, three schools and a central district hospital will be restored and re-equipped.
Ecological issues will be considered while building the plant, Kholstov said. This is the main task the builders are facing, he noted.
Kholstov said that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure the ecological safety of the lewisite storage. He said that a monitoring system that had been developed over several years will eventually be installed at the new disposal facility.
There are about 15,000 tonnes of chemical weapons stored at the Kambarka and Kizner arsenals in Udmurtia. The total amount of chemical weapons in Russia reaches about 40,000 tonnes.