BICHOLIM: The local unit of Shiv Sena has demanded closure of the Sanquelim swimming pool till the time it is provided with all the facilities. The party has threatened an agitation if its demands are not met.
Addressing the media, party General Secretary Milind Gawas said that since the time it was inaugurated, there are several problems at the Sanquelim swimming pool.
“Despite spending huge amount of money, the authorities concerned have failed to maintain the pool,” Gawas and informed that that the party activists would gherao the director if proper facilities are not restored at the pool.
“There are no pipes to clean the pool and most of the time the old and only motor is out of order. All the ladders in the pool are broken and they just have very small pipeline to refill the pool. There are no lights in the changing room and most of the time the entire area stinks. Sometimes there is no water available for a shower,” he said.
“We strongly demand that the authorities should take up the repairs of the pool and till then this pool should be closed for the public” Gawas said adding “If our demands are not met, we will resort to agitation and gherao the sports director, he warned”
Sanquelim unit President Vishram Parab stated that the pool always had some problem or the other. “When it was inaugurated, for some years it was closed as muddy water was entering the pool from the nearby mines. There is no management for this project and about 7.80 lakh water bill is pending,” he said.
The initial cost of construction was estimated to Rs 3.63 crore in 2008. The project got delayed and was finally completed in 2011 at a cost of Rs 5.21 crore. But the sorry state of affair did not end there. There were allegations that the construction was of low quality.
Herald had also highlighted the issue several times after which the authorities paid a casual visit.
Visiting committee President Digambar Usapkar, initially denied all the allegations and was even furious at those making allegations. But when given proof of the allegations, he started blaming the staff.
“I hardly come here and was not aware about it,” Usapkar said.
