 Early Times Report
JAMMU, July 19: The J&K State Sports Council has locked the swimming pool from inside a day after its grand opening yesterday by the Minister for Sports, Raman Bhalla at MA Stadium, here today.
Finding the main gate of the pool locked that too without giving any specified reason, a number of water sports enthusiasts left the place in dejection. While some had to return unattended, a couple of young boys and girls, accompanied by their parents, were seen getting unsatisfactory answers from the staff at the indoor complex.
In an attempt to look into the reasons for the lock at pool, this correspondent found that the concerned staff was unable to filter the contaminated water in the pool what to talk of related facilities.
"It rally surprised me to find the main gate of the pool locked on the very next day of its opening by the Minister for Sports. My daughter is a judo trainee at the indoor complex and I wanted to enroll my son for the swimming. So, I wanted to find out the details for admission, but the gate has been locked," Dr DJ Raina told SAN.
On being inquired, it was found that a new team of contractors have arrived with instructions for another round of renovation work at the swimming pool. "We have been allotted with the job of flooring around the pool and completion of other left out works, including the showers and changing rooms," contractor told SAN pleading not to be quoted. When asked about any deadline given for completion of the work, he informed that it will take at least a month to complete the assigned job.
As per the reliable sources, the Council too has decided not to open the pool in near future and may linger on till August 15. On being contacted, Sports Officer of the State Sports Council, Rajan Sharma looked confident to start the season from July 23 positively.
"We will start selling the admission forms from Tuesday (July 22). Most probably the training (morning and evening) sessions shall begin from Wednesday (July 23) for those enrolled swimmers," informed Rajan Sharma.
Meanwhile, the parents of trainees in other disciplines were heard criticizing the Sports Council and its vice president, Sports Minister, for inaugurating the pool when it was not completely renovated.
"There must be political reasons for the Minister to inaugurate the facility in a hurry. These Ministers just want to place their names on the walls thus mislead the masses. It really surprised us to find the pool incomplete even after spending near Rs two crore," one of the parents told SAN. |
