News In Brief

USSR offers to build gas pipeline to India

The Soviet Union has offered to build a pipeline to supply natural gas to India. Gargi Shankar Mishra, Indian energy minister, said here Tuesday that Nikolay Baibakov, chairman of the Soviet Planning Committee, made the offer to Commerce Minister Vishwanath, who visited Moscow in September. Mr. Baibakov noted that the Soviet Union exports natural gas to Western Europe and could build a pipeline through central Asia to India. The Soviet Union is one of India's main sources of crude oil and petroleum products.