The renovated Water Works swimming pool was thrown open to the public by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy here on Wednesday.
The Water Works Swimming pool, one of the oldest and for a long time the only swimming pool in the State, has been one of the iconic landmarks in Thiruvananthapuram. The swimming pool which inspired a generation of swimmers in the city was dismantled for constructing an Olympic size pool for the 35th National Games. However, the construction hit a roadblock as an old pipeline that was installed in the 1930s was found on the site. The construction, which began in April 2011, was abandoned and the swimming events of the 35th National Games were shifted to the BR Ambedkar Swimming Complex in Pirappancode.
Following widespread protest, the executive committee of the National Games Secretariat under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister decided to renovate the old swimming pool. Tenders were floated and the construction began in April 2013. The new pool has been constructed at a cost of Rs 5.5 crore. The size of the pool has been increased to 50m x 25m (the older pool had a dimension of 50m x 18m). Aa new filter plant, new toilet blocks and administrative blocks have been constructed.
The Chief Minister, while inaugurating the renovated pool, said though the Water Works Swimming Pool was not a venue of the National Games, he was keen that the pool, which was unique to the city of Thiruvananthapuram, should not be destroyed and the decision to renovate the old pool was based on that. However, the Chief Minister stressed the need for proper maintenance of the pool and expressed hope that people of Thiruvananthapuram would benefit greatly from the new pool. The Chief Minister said following the success of Run Kerala Run, the State was confident about the success of the Games to be staged in seven venues across the State. Jacob Punnoose, CEO of National Games Secretariat, welcomed the gathering.
