Russia will allocate 7.5 billion rubles ($242.5 million) in 2011 to rehabilitate forests and prevent wildfires, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.
"Next year we will allocate 2.5 billion rubles ($81 million) for forest rehabilitation and 5 billion rubles ($161.5 million) for preventing wildfires," Putin said.
Forest and peat bog fires raged across European Russia in July and August amid an unprecedented heat wave and severe drought. The fires killed over 50 people, and destroyed more than 2,000 homes, making thousands homeless.
VLADIMIR REGION, September 15 (RIA Novosti)
