Children hope for opening of pool as summer sets in

The swimming pool at Sir M Visvesvaraya district playground which was opened with much fanfare last year remains closed till now.

Even as the summer is in the offing, the swimming pool which was shut down during winter last year continues to be closed for public use.

After persistent struggle by swimmers in Chikkaballapur, a swimming pool was constructed at a cost of Rs 1.80 crore.

The swimming pool measuring 60 metres in length and six feet deep had thus created hope among swimming enthusiasts in the district.

After Union Minister M Veerappa Moily inaugurated the swimming pool on May 14, 2011, its maintenance was handed over to a contractor. The pool which was closed down on August 14, 2012, after the end of the contract is yet to be opened.

The prolonged wait of swimmers and children seems to have no end in sight.

The team incharge of swimming pool maintenance have this to say: “ The swimming pool requires at least 16 lakh gallon of water. Of this nearly a lakh gallon of water is needed for balancing tank alone. Added to this, 20,000 litres of water is needed to replace unclean water. This being the state, providing water to toilets and showers seems near to impossible.”

After the contract ended on August 14, 2012, when a new tender was called for maintenance and running of the pool, nobody evinced interest. So unless, somebody comes forward to secure the contract, the pool cannot be opened, said Jayalakshmi, Assistant Director of Department of Youth Services and Sports.