Want swimming pool, not yoga centre at Freedom fighters Park: Swimmers

Mysuru: The proposal to construct a yoga centre at Freedom Fighters Park in Subbarayanakere has been opposed by sportspersons and public. While the public want a swimming pool at the park as planned, local elected representatives are promoting a yoga centre.
The park on Narayana Shastry Road once housed Bahusar swimming pool, which was a landmark in the city for over five decades. It was demolished after Mysuru City Corporation took over it and had proposed to construct a hi-tech swimming pool and commercial complex at a cost of Rs 11 crore. But the project did not take off.
Meanwhile, the swimming pool in Saraswathipuram which is managed by University of Mysore, had started to overcrowd. During summers, pool authorities were forced to make nine batches per day, including a general batch and for professionals, to allow around 2,000 persons who came to practice swimming.
To reduce the burden at Saraswathipuram, work on a pool at Chamundi Vihar Stadium and at Pandit Puttaraja Gavayi Sports Complex in JP Nagar was taken up. But as both the pools are not in the city's heart, people continued to depend on the pool at Saraswathipuram.
Swimmer Srikanth from Agrahara said yoga can be practiced anywhere in open places, but as there is a dearth for swimming pools in the city. “We need a pool which is close to our place and MCC should construct a swimming pool at the park,” he said.
International swimming coach S Sundaresh told TOI that seven years ago, authorities had planned to build a centre of excellence with a 25-metre-long swimming pool at the park under PPP model. “But the project did not start. Professional swimmers submitted several memorandums to authorities over the years. We hope the authorities hear our plea,” he said.
Reacting on the issue, Mysuru acting mayor Anwar Baig said MCC is chalking out a plan to construct a yoga centre inside the park. “I will discuss with the local MLA on constructing a swimming pool for the benefit of people,” he said.