Deputy Commissioner N.S. Channappa Gowda said here on Sunday that a proposal to construct a new swimming pool in the city at an estimated cost of Rs. 3 crore would be taken up only after the State Government ensured required funding.
Mr. Gowda told The Hindu on Sunday that the Assistant Director of Youth Services and Sports, Dakshina Kannada should submit a proposal to the Government asking for the use of about Rs. 3 crore, which was the amount remaining of the fund allocated for National Youth Festival held in the city, for constructing a new swimming pool. “Once this is approved, we can start further process,” he said.
Minister for Youth Services and Sports Appachu Ranjan told reporters here on Saturday that a swimming pool of an international standard will be built in Mangalore at a cost of Rs. 3 crore.
He inspected the site proposed for the swimming pool along with Deputy Speaker N. Yogish Bhat, who mooted the proposal.
Mr. Bhat said a new swimming pool was necessary as the existing one does not meet the standards needed for holding national swimming competitions. Mr. Bhat said a part of Vanita Vana (a park) in Hat Hill can be used for building the new swimming pool.
“Presently the park is not being used much. The new swimming pool can become a part of the park,” he said.
Mr. Bhat said about Rs. 3 crore, which was the amount remaining out of the funds released for the National Youth Festival, can be used for having the new swimming pool. “The State Government has to divert this fund. With the Minister agreeing for the proposal, I hope the government will divert the fund,” he said. Mr. Bhat took Mr. Ranjan to the site proposed for the new swimming pool on Saturday.
V. Ramakrishna Rao from Jai Hind Swimming Club told The Hindu that the proposal for an additional swimming pool for the city has been pending for the long time. He said the existing swimming pool, which has 15 meters width, does not have eight lanes necessary to hold a national event.
“We can only hold diving events, but not the heats of swimming events. We cannot conduct water polo matches here.”
Moreover, Mr. Rao said there has been increase in the number of people using the swimming pool.
He said 150 swimmers, who are participating in various swimming competitions, hardly get time for practice. “It is difficult for them to get time between 6 a.m. and 7a.m. when others also come to the pool. The 7.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. earmarked by the management is too odd for practice. Only those staying near the swimming pool can practice,” said Mr. Rao, who has been coaching for nearly three decades.
Former National Swimming Coach M.R. Mohite, who has trained many swimmers from the region, said with a new swimming pool there can be more national swimming events here that will give good exposure for the swimmers of the region. “There are many talented swimmers in the region. More swimming events will improve the standard of swimmers from the region,” he said.
International standard swimming pools have already come up in places such as Bidar, Gulbarga and Bagalkot, said Mr. Mohite, who is has been involved in designing many swimming pools in the State.
He presently works as the Deputy Director of Youth Services and Sports in Bangalore.
