“Tribune of energetic”: on guard of clean water

“Tribune energetics” is the name of the newspaper, published in the urban settlement Polesskoe, Kiev region, it was the organ of the party committee, the united trade union committee, and the Komsomol committee of the Construction Department of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant named after V.I. Lenin.

Its circulation was about 4000 copies. In the end of July 1986 – the newspaper could be seen twice a week in the hands of almost every employee of the station, on a table in the operational headquarters, at a checkpoint, at a sanitary inspection room, in a word – everywhere.

What did its correspondents write about? What worried its readers at that difficult time? It is amusing, dreary, and at the same time interesting to read the reports of the “Tribune of energetic” today. This is our general story.

Not fictional, not played by the actors of the series, but real, as they say firsthand. Let’s plunge together into that terrible and simultaneously heroic time – the summer of 1986. You must admit that these chronicles evoke mixed emotions today.

From the materials “Tribune of energetic” for July 25, 1986:

“…A road sign with the inscription“Ministry of Water Economy of the USSR” appeared on the roads of Chernobyl in early July. Twenty days later, the first information has already appeared on the implementation by the water sector of a thematic task to eliminate the consequences of the Chernobyl accident. The loud but fair figures 125 out of 102 speak for themselves, where the first is the percentage completion of the daily plan, the second is the final implementation of the plan from the beginning of the month.

The local operational headquarters of the main committee of Water Economy is located in a small old building with a three-story wooden porch, whitewashed in white at home. His deep and heavy voice is heard in a conversation with the director, he is an experienced leader – the first to organize the drainage curtain of the cooling pond at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

Radioactive particles could get into the cooling pond after the accident. And since its level is seven meters higher than the water level in the river, it is possible that they can contaminate natural reservoirs. We need a drainage curtain to prevent filtering, that is, we need to install pumps that would transfer water from the pond.

We must install at least 300 drainage wells until October 15. If we add that we have managed to drill only eight by the first half of July, then it becomes clear how this work is difficult and time-consuming. However, we have adapted ourselves and today we drill four wells a day. But we need to go to the line in order to meet the deadline approved by the government commission – seven wells a day.

First of all, it is necessary that the site of mechanization of construction work accelerate the construction of the road. Wetlands, wet sand greatly complicate our movement. In addition, we are let down by the Kiev rural electricity network, regarding the power supply to the wells. But the main bet, of course, is on their own strength.

Today, brigades from Saratov and Kuibyshev work at the Chernobyl section of PMK-19, two brigades are represented by the Kolmyk plumbing. Many guys arrived from Moscow, Kaluga, Bryansk, Smolensk, Tula. Two brigades were called from Baku in order to maximize pumping. For example, earlier pumps were mounted directly on site. Now we have organized a centralized delivery of filters already wrapped in mesh, which significantly accelerated the production.

A healthy competition spirit helps a lot. According to the latest results, the team of drillers from the city of Engels, Saratov Region, under the leadership of master M.F.Demin became a winner. I’m sure that the Director of the Main Committee sums up the conversation – we will cope with the task on time”…

Newsreel July 25, 1986:

Chernobyl industrial site and outlet channel

… “The list of facilities subject to thorough decontamination and subsequent commissioning includes a storage facility for nuclear fuel waste. It makes no sense to clarify the importance of putting the facility into operation in the current situation.

The lead-lining of window openings of the transport and technological unit, administrative and chemical units was completed. Now every quarter meter of numerous storage rooms is being cleaned and laundered, where subsequently electricians and installers will have to complete work on a fully special circuit. Carpenters and concrete workers of the construction site № 1 of the Construction Department of the Chernobyl NPP are working along with the soldiers to complete this difficult responsible task.

The object will be put into operational service in due time. This was confirmed by those who, regardless of the difficulties, are working on its construction – Vladimir Privedenyuk, Roman Kvach, Alexander Dedov. The second storage tank has already been erected along the entire perimeter of the channel – more than two kilometers – by the forces of the construction and installation complex № 1. The load was fully concreted for insulation for five days by the brigade of Kondratenok A.G., that is, more than 250 cubic meters of concrete were laid”…

They were the first

“The streets in the regional centers of Ivankov and Borodyanka were named after the brave officers – Kibenok and Pravik. Viktor Kibenok and Vladimir Pravik, the guards of the militarized fire department, were the first to step into battle with fire at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, blocking its path at the cost of their own lives.

The Korchagin Courage Watch is dedicated to them in the units and subdivisions that take part in the liquidation of the consequences of the accident. The names of the heroes are the student squad, which is building a village for workers of the collective farm “Friendship”, evacuated from the danger zone. A fire engine “Ural”, which the lieutenant of internal service Kibenok sent to attack the raging flame, will also become a unique monument to the fallen heroes. It was retained at the initiative of the officer’s comrades, and after appropriate processing, it will be placed on a pedestal.

State Bank, account № 904

“…What happened at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant with heartache was perceived in every labor collective, in every Soviet family. Thousands of people immediately showed determination to make their personal contribution to the aftermath of the accident, to help the people evacuated from the danger zone. The situation is commented on by Chairman of the Board of the State Bank of the USSR V. V. Dementsev:

The state took upon itself all expenses for liquidation of the consequences of the accident, every Soviet citizen knows about this from the press and radio. Nevertheless, there are more and more people wishing to make their feasible financial contribution. People in all corners of our country are passionately participating in the fates of those who are in trouble, who are forced to temporarily leave their places of origin and their homes.

The State Bank received about one million rubles of deposits in the accounts of the victims at the end of June. The State Bank opened an account № 904 to account for funds from the population. Among the first to it, contributions were made by workers of the Rossoshanskoye poultry enterprise of the Voronezh region, teachers of the Makhachkala music school, workers of the 1-st May collective farm of Primorsky Krai, it is impossible to name all.

People contributed not only money, but also bonds of State loans, jewelry. The State Bank issued the corresponding printed certificates to express gratitude to the citizens, which are handed in each of its branches together with a receipt on payment of the fee. Funds received to account № 904 are sent to the areas affected by the accident, for the construction of housing for evacuated families, and the provision of material assistance to them. There is no such survivor family today that our state would not worry about”.

