Authorities will spend $3.4 million to repair bricks on Red Square and chase away rain clouds for the Victory Day parade to celebrate the 68th anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat in World War II next month.
Pyotr Biryukov, deputy mayor for housing and public works, said City Hall had allocated 70 million rubles ($2.2 million) to repair Red Square and the surrounding area for the arrival of tanks and other heavy military vehicles for the May 9 parade.
Repairs will also have to be carried out after the parade, mainly to Manezh Square, where the heavy machinery turns at 90 degrees and ruins the granite pavement, he said in an interview with Ekho Moskvy radio late Thursday.
City funds are also being spent on water works, vacuum cleaners and other cleaning personnel, he said.
Providing Moscow with good weather is slightly cheaper; the dispersal of clouds over the capital will cost about 40 million rubles ($1.2 million). The military will send up planes to spray the sky with chemicals aimed at vaporizing rain clouds.
"This is for the convenience of all Muscovites," Biryukov said. "After all, it is necessary to create favorable conditions not only at the time of the parade but for all events during the day. In the evening, people would like to be comfortable as they watch the fireworks."
He added: "When the fireworks and celebrations end, then the rain and thunder can come."
