No trace of water in common man’s MC swimming pool

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 12

The Municipal Corporation has failed to start sports activities in the public swimming pool at Gol Bagh due to staff crunch this season. The civic body doesn’t have coaches, life-saving guards and other employees to operate the swimming pool.

Earlier, the civic body used to start the sports activities in the pool on every Baisakhi. This year, the government did not allow it to recruit contractual or part-time employees. In the absence of the staff for routine duties, the MC did not fill water in the pool.

The MC swimming pool was started in September 1979. A large number of residents enjoy swimming here every year. During June 2014, the then mayor, Sunil Dutti, had renovated the pool and installed tiles in it.

The pool was functional till 2016 and the residents used to enjoy swimming from Baisakhi to the Diwali festivals.

Kamal Kumar, in charge of the pool, said, “Earlier there were permanent employees for sanitation, maintenance and other jobs at the pool. Even the coach had retired some years back. We used to run the pool with the help of contractual employees, but the new government has not sectioned these posts. It is the first time when we are not able to start the pool”.

The Municipal Corporation’s swimming pool is for the common man in the city because educational institutes having swimming pools charge heavily from visitors.

In the absence of a public swimming pool, the common man has to swim in canals, which pose a risk to his life.

Ravi, a local swimmer, said, “Other pools in the city are comparatively costly and only the well-off can pay the hefty amount for the season. The Gol Bagh swimming pool was good for the common man. I have learnt swimming in this pool and love this sport. The civic body should start this pool soon”.

About the swimming pool

The Gol Bagh swimming pool was constructed in September 1979. 

In June 2014, the then mayor, Sunil Dutti, had got it renovated by installing tiles. 

Till 2016, it was functional as people enjoyed swimming from Baisakhi till Diwali.

Now, it is closed as the new government hasn't sanctioned any contractual or part-time post.