Russia is yet to receive a proposal for another site to the Haripur nuclear plant, the Russian Envoy to India, Mr Alexander M. Kadkin, said on Wednesday.

“It is not that we are looking for any other site. We had proposed to expand the existing site at Kudankulam where unit number 3 and 4, 5 and 6 and even 7 and 8. In Haripur we see problems. Geologically, Haripur it is much worse than other sites. We have been waiting for one year. Orissa and Andhra Pradesh were mentioned all in passing. We have been waiting for another site for almost a year now. We are ready. No concrete proposal has come for any alternate site,” the Envoy said.

Commenting on the forthcoming India-Russia Summit meeting, the Envoy said that the overall motto of the summit is “we are with India in rain or shine and we expect that our nuclear cooperation despite all quarrels and internal problems will continue and we are ready to assist”.

The press conference was held on the eve of the annual India-Russia summit for which Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh will travel to Moscow. Mr Kadakin said the cooperation in the energy sector will be the major guidelines of the forthcoming visit.

Trade lagging

Turning his attention to bilateral trade, the Envoy said that the two countries were lagging behind.

“For India and Russia to have (bilateral trade) at about $9.5 or $9.6-billion turnover is a shame. We have to overcome this shame though in the last five years we have doubled. The target set by the Prime Minister and President remains the same that by the year 2015 we shall reach the target of $20 billion. Of course these are peanuts when compared to China's turnover of $60 billion,” the Envoy said.

India and Russia were expected to sign six to seven agreements during the forthcoming summit in diverse areas including economic issues, military and energy cooperation.

ashphadnis@thehindu.co.in

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW