Curbs eased yet 12 of 13 PMC swimming pools remain shut

The PCMC administration had eased Covid-19 restrictions on February 2 and allowed access to its swimming pool to all citizens. On Sunday, many children were denied at the Pimple Gurav pool, the only one faility, which remained open in the industrial city. The suburbs of Pimple Gurav, Sangvi and Kasarwadi each have a swimming pool run by the civic body and are located within 2 km of each other.

While the pools at Kasarwadi and Sangvi had notice boards hanging at the gates announcing the closure of the facility due to repair works, the Pimple Gurav pool had its gates shut when a batch of swimming enthusiasts turned up for the 8 am slot.

The staff at the swimming pool had allegedly locked the premises from inside.

Sunil, a class 9 student, said, “I had come from Kasarwadi as the swimming pool there was shut for repairs. Here, I arrived for the 8 am batch just five minutes late. They did not allow me inside. The premises remained shut from inside. 15-20 other children were waiting outside. Despite our requests, we were not allowed inside. I don’t know whether the swimming pools are for children or PCMC employees.”

The pool at Kasarwadi even put up a board declaring that it would be shut for two months due to repair works. (Express Photo)

Another swimmer K Dhanavate, a local resident said, “As soon I arrived, I saw the gates closed. Several children were waiting outside with nobody to take them inside. I don’t understand how PCMC can run a swimming pool like this. Is it meant only as a showpiece or a facility to encourage children to take to sport?”

Sushma Shinde, in-charge of PCMC’s swimming pools said, “I will inquire as to why children were blocked entry from the Pimple Gurav swimming pool.”

Jayshree Salve, supervisor for sports with PCMC, said, “Some children were left out at the Pimple Gurav pool as we have orders that it should be run only with 50 per cent capacity. As for the timings, we allow only 30 minutes for the swimmers. This is again according to the orders of the civic administration.”

Salve said of the 13 swimming pools, 12 are shut. “This is because for two years the pools were closed. Now they are undergoing some repair works. We started the Pimple Gurav pool with great difficulty. For starting a pool, we need to fill up the tanks with water. It needs at least three weeks. Besides, water availability is also a problem as the city receives water every alternate day,” she said.

PCMC Additional Municipal Commissioner Vikas Dhakane said, “I will convene a meeting of the concerned officials to find out the state of the swimming pools. Also, regarding the batch timings, I will talk to the officials so that children can be given sufficient time.”

Debunking PCMC’s claim of becoming a sports hub, corporator Asha Shendge said, “If 12 pools are shut, how can Pimpri-Chinchwad become a sports hub? Imagine for two years, the swimming pools were out of bounds for sportspersons and other kids. And now, they are shut for repairs. I don’t understand what the civic sports department was doing for the last two years. The civic administration should have carried out the repair works when the pools were shut.”

In the budget presented by Additional Municipal Commissioner Vikas Dhakane last week, the civic administration declared its intention to revamp the existing sports facilities and set up new sports infrastructure in a bid to make Pimpri-Chinchwad a sports hub.

Shendge said the timings of the swimming pools are big a problem. “PCMC is not taking the sport of swimming seriously. The batches are barely for 20 -30 minutes. In the morning by 8.30 am, the pools get shut for boys. 15 minutes are reserved for shower. If the timings are so short, when will the children swim? When will they learn and become international stars? PCMC’s approach is not serious to swimming” she said.