Gole Bagh swimming pool picture of apathy, neglect

AMRITSAR: With an intense heat wave gripping the region swimming can bring some respite to city residents

Updated At : 06:31 AM May 20, 2016 IST

The swimming pool at Gole Bagh in Amritsar. Photo: Vishal Kumar

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 19

With an intense heat wave gripping the region, swimming can bring some respite to city residents. However, the only swimming pool for the public at the Gole Bagh here is crying for attention.

The dismal state of affairs so far as the maintenance of the pool goes has kept swimming enthusiasts away from the pool. The swimming season starts from April while the pool has not been opened so far due to its poor state. The pool with a depth from four feet to 16 feet was empty and littered with waste and the its floor is also coming off.

The foundation stone of the swimming pool was laid in 1977, but it was inaugurated in 1979. It is 50-metre long, 22-metre wide while its depth varies from four to 16 feet. Sources in the Municipal Corporation said the pool had an imported water plant. They said the size of the pool was big enough to conduct swimming events, but in the absence of technically trained coaches and supporting staff, it could not happen. The only coach deputed at the pool has retired. The cloak room was also in a pathetic condition while cement is peeling off from the roof. The swimming season starts from May and ends in October. While private clubs or hotels charge anything between Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000, the MC pool charges start from Rs 1,000 for a school student, Rs 1,500 for a college-goer and Rs 3,000 for the general public for the whole season.

Had the MC spared a thought to maintain the pool on a regular basis, it would have attracted a huge number of enthusiasts from the city, but that did not happen. Failure in giving proper publicity to the pool is also one of the reasons for its present state, said a local resident, Manoj Kumar. “The funds garnered by way of pool charges would have been enough to maintain it besides revamping its surroundings,” he pointed out.

Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora said after the retirement of the superintendent concerned, the condition of the pool deteriorated; only a few people have shown interest in swimming here. “I would discuss the matter with the MC Commissioner, Sonali Giri, for the proper maintenance and upkeep of the pool. People should take membership of the pool and use its international-level swimming standard to the optimum,” he added.