Bhopal: Shut for 10-yrs, swimming pool at Idgah to start ‘soon’

Bhopal: BMC authorities are yet to come up with valid explanation behind the nonfunctioning of its community swimming pool at Idgah hills which has been shut for over a decade. Though Mayor has assured to restart it soon, but residents feel that it would not be very soon. The swimming pool, once operated and maintained by Bhopal Municipal Corporation today wears a deserted look. The demand for reopening of the pool has been coming from various quarters, however, the authorities have chosen to turn a deaf ear.

Mayor Alok Sharma however assured that the operation of the pool will soon be resumed. We have made an action plan for it and are likely to start it soon, he added. The mayor-in-council (MIC) member Mahesh Makwana, who is also local corproator said that he himself tried hard to get it started but failed.

Former chairman of the BMC Kailash Mishra said he too tried to resume its operation on PPP mode but it could not happen. Recalling old days, a resident Shahid said he has an emotional connect with the swimming pool as he used to take his children there during summers. But the pool was shut after a man was drowned in it. Since then the efforts to re-start the pool are underway but it seems they will have to wait little longer as no decision seems coming, he added.