What happened to the 40-odd pumps purchased in 1974?

Dear Editor,

I refer to an article in KN dated June 1 on drainage pumps and I would like to enquire from the Ministry of Agriculture whatever happened to the 40 odd pumps with discharge pipes outlets purchased in 1974 by the Hydraulics Division?

These pumps were bought under a US Exim Bank Loan and were manufactured in Brazil. To my knowledge only about 12 of these pumps were installed along the coast and the rest were stockpiled at the sea defence site at Lusignan and the majority at Timerhi to protect them from the salt air.

The government has recently spent US$4M buying pumps from India, and it makes no sense to me.

 Yours faithfully,

M Alli