19:00, 22 October 2009

Chechnya: sappers of Russian MfE neutralized about 160 explosives

Experts of the Ministry for Emergencies (MfE) of Russia who came in mid-September to Chechnya for demining local farmland have cleared over 35 hectares of arable area.

"Sappers of the 'Leader' Centre for Special-Risk Operations engaged in demining the territory of the State Farm 'Zarya', Grozny District of the republic, has cleared, within a month of their work, over 35.5 hectares of agricultural land from mines, fougasses, shells and other unexploded ammunition. They've neutralized about 160 explosive subjects," the local MfE has reported.

The group of experts consists of 31 employees of the "leader" Centre. In their demining work the sappers make use of different equipment, including a remote-controlled robot. They still have to demine 60 hectares till the end of their mission.

Yesterday, on October 21, President of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov expressed his discontent with the progress in demining of Chechnya. "Dozens thousand hectares of arable land are still un-cleared. Besides, the republic needs demining not only state farm fields, but also whole settlements, including Grozny," he said.

Author: Muslim Ibragimov

Source: CK correspondent