Chandigarh Sports Dept to throw open 5 pools for local swimmers
Deepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 7
UT Administrator and Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore today approved the opening of swimming pools with immediate effect, but the Sports Department will take time to initiate the process.
The department is in charge of over 10 swimming pools and for the first time, only half of these will be thrown open to local swimmers who have to participate in state or other competitions.
Panjab University to follow suit
Panjab University has also decided to open its swimming pools for professional swimmers. Pools on Panjab University campus have been shut for over a year. “Yes, we will also open the pools. However, we will follow the guidelines of the UT Administration. Once they decide, we will follow the suit,” said Prof Prashant Kumar Gautam, Director, Sports, PU.
As per the guidelines, only those swimmers, who have been administered at least one dose of Covid vaccine, will be allowed to practise at the pools. While those below 18 years will undergo tests every fortnight and provide reports to the coach to continue practising at the pool.
“As per the instructions, swimmers have to undergo a test after every 15 days. Since there are no vaccines for children below 18 years, the competitive swimmers of this age group will have to produce Covid test reports after every 14 days,” said Tejdeep Singh Saini, UT Sports Director.
Five pools to open
The Sports Department, meanwhile, has chosen to throw open Sector 23 (all weather swimming pool), Sector 27, Sector 38, Sector 50 and Lake Sports Complex pool to public. Out of these, Sector 23 and Sector 27 are ready to resume operations.
The Sector 27 pool was inaugurated by Badnore recently, while the Sector 23 facility had already been opened for international and national level swimmers.
The process to open other swimming pools is expected to take time as the department has to appoint maintenance staff, clean the pool arena, fill water into the pools, run tests, repair plants, and perform other necessary steps. The coaches have already been appointed at these five pools.
Allotment of slots
The pools are expected to be open twice a day – morning and evening – under different timings.
Limited number of swimmers will be allowed to practise in a single slot, which will be issued by the appointed coaches in accordance with the SOPs.
Sharing of kits will not be allowed and the arena will be cleaned after every 45 minutes.
