Corporation’s permission mandatory to build swimming facility
The State government on Wednesday framed a Bill detailing the safety norms to be followed by swimming pools in schools.
In August this year, nine-year-old Ranjan died in the swimming pool at PSBB School in K.K. Nagar.
Local administration and water supply minister K.P. Munusamy introduced the Bill in the Assembly to amend laws on municipal corporations and municipalities in the State.
According to the Bill, Ranjan died due to lack of safety measures in the construction and maintenance of the swimming pool. “The government, therefore, considers that there is an imperative need to evolve meaningful and comprehensive measures to ensure safety and security of users of swimming pools, particularly in educational institutions.”
The government decided to amend the laws on urban local bodies — Chennai, Madurai and Coimbatore Municipal Corporation Acts and District Municipalities Act — to regulate construction, maintenance and monitoring of swimming pools.
No swimming pools would be constructed without permission from commissioners of Chennai, Madurai and Coimbatore Corporations or the executive authority of the other local bodies, the Bill said.
Applications must be made to the commissioners or other officials concerned and they should be accompanied by a fee not exceeding Rs. 5,000.
The existing swimming pools must acquire an official nod within three months of the law coming into force.
The Commissioners or their nominees have been empowered to enter any building or property where swimming pools are located and inspect or take measures for the safety and maintenance of the pools.
Keywords: swimming pools, schools, PSBB School, student death, safety norms, Tamil Nadu, Bill
The copies of the proposed bill should be circulated to all schools to get the schools input before making the bill into law. The bill should include coaches qualification and first aid training and full-time requirement of life guards. Also should clarify what modifications need to be made on existing pools. Pool accidents in US are related to under water lighting(electricution), drain outlet and inadequate fencing.
If it becomes mandatory for all schools of corporation to have a swimimming pool, there is going to further problem of safety and security and adquency of water supply and fencing aorund the swimming pools and watchman for 24 hours will become a Must.
Let there be a one single big swimming pool for one two school jointly,with all pracautionery arrangmeent.May be more expeneses for the school.Let them collect a nominal fee as well from the students.which can only maintain the same.well.
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