Sec 50, Mani Majra pools thrown open to public

Deepankar Sharda

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 23

Nearly four months after its inauguration, the swimming pool at the Sector 50 Sports Complex was thrown open to the general public on Tuesday. 

Along with the Sector 50 swimming pool, the Sports Department also opened the swimming pool at the Mani Majra Sports Complex. This complex was inaugurated last year in March. 

“These two swimming pools have been opened for the public and the rest will also be opened soon,” said a source in the UT Sports Department. 

The UT Sports Department had recently recruited six specialists to look after the city’s swimming pools. “The newly recruited staff will get training till July 31 at the respective pools before getting the joining letters,” the source added.

The Sports Department is responsible for the coaching facilities and maintenance of swimming pools, including the Sector 23 all-weather pool and the Sector 23 nursery pool. The department also looks after the swimming pools at Sector 34, Sector 43, Sector 38, Sector 50, Sector 56 and the Lake Sports Complex. 

With the increase in the number of pools in the city, the Sports Department had been finding it difficult to run these centres with limited staff.

Demand for coaches 

While the Sports Department is focused on improving the facilities for the general public, the local trainees sought increase in the number of coaches at the swimming pools in Sector 23 and the Lake Sports Complex. “After one of the coaches retired last month, the department has not provided adequate coaching staff at these training centres. It’s good that the infrastructure is being built, but the staff should be increased as well. Various competitions are approaching and it is difficult for kids to train without proper coaching staff,” said a parent of one of the trainees.