Work on Karnal’s first indoor swimming pool picks up pace

Parveen Arora

Karnal, August 2

After witnessing various hurdles since the announcement in 2015, the much awaited project Karnal’s first indoor swimming pool at Shaheed Udham Singh Government College, Matakmajri in Indri block, has picked up pace. As per the authorities it is nearing completion and expected to complete by the end of August 2022. Besides, the administration is planning to make it an all-weather indoor swimming pool, for which a proposal has been sent to the government. If all goes as per plan, it will be made an all-weather swimming pool after it starts functioning.

Project reviewed

I have reviewed the project and directed the department concerned to complete it by the end of August. Anish Yadav, Deputy Commissioner

“I have reviewed the project and directed the department concerned to complete it by the end of August,” said Anish Yadav, Deputy Commissioner.

The indoor stadium will help in nurturing talented swimmers, said the DC.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had announced this project on June 4, 2015 while addressing a public meeting in Indri.

This project has witnessed several hiccups as earlier it was assigned to the PWD (B&R), but later it was transferred to Panchayati Raj Department at the end of 2016.

One of the officials said two estimates were prepared for this ambitious project. One estimate for four-lane indoor swimming pool was prepared and a sum of Rs 2.75 crore was approved by the government. The tender was also called. Even after the allotment of tender, a new proposal was sent to the government for making the swimming pool of eight lanes. A revised estimate of Rs 5.40 was approved by the government, said an official.

The first tender was kept on hold and a revised tender was floated. The project was allotted to the same agency with a revised estimate. In the first tender, the date of commencement of the project was October 2017 and it was to be completed by October 31, 2018, but due to these hurdles work could not be started.

Later the work started in September 2018 and the deadline was fixed to June 30, 2020, but the work could not be completed due to Covid-induced lockdown accompanied by a vigilance inquiry, said Parminder Singh, XEN Panchayati Raj.

“Now, the fresh deadline has been given as August 31 to the agency and work is near completion. It will be the first indoor swimming pool of the district,” he added.

To make it an all-weather pool

The administration is planning to make it an all-weather indoor swimming pool, for which a proposal has been sent to the government. If all goes as per plan, it will be made an all-weather swimming pool after it starts functioning.