Sanquelim might boast of having a swimming pool but this project seems to be neglected by the authorities since its inception. With no proper facilities it has only become a game spoiler for most of the swimming enthusiasts.
“In spite of the government spending so much, the authorities concerned have failed to maintain the pool,” said V Desai from Sanquelim. “There are no proper facilities and this project is like another White Elephant,” he added.
The pool seems to have long history with its own ups and downs. The initial cost of construction was estimated to Rs 3.63 cr in 2008. The project got delayed and was finally completed in 2011 at the cost of Rs 5.21 cr. But the sorry state of affairs did not end there. This Rs 5 cr construction was not liked by the public and there were allegations that the construction was of low quality.
Soon after its inauguration the public started claiming that there is a leakage in the pool and mining water is getting mixed with the pool water. The ‘rumour’ spread like wild fire and soon the pool was closed for the public. After several months and with proper maintenance the pool was again thrown open to the public.
But even today the pool is gripped with several problems which the authorities have totally ignored.
Concerned people from Sanquelim have always raised their voices and have tried to show the down side of the pool. Just last year when Sanquelim MLA Dr Pramod Sawant had visited the pool he was surprised to see that nine of the 28 employees were not present at the site. Further inquiries revealed that five employees were absent, while two of them came in late and two grounds men had gone to some other place for work.
Taking strong note of their dereliction of duty, Dr Sawant instructed the administrative officials to direct the sports department to suspend the five absent employees.
The people are either blaming the workers, pool attendants, pool in-charge or the MLA for neglecting the area. “Most of the time the pool is closed and all the workers sit in groups and chat. We don’t know for what they are drawing their salaries for. When asked they just say they do not have the proper equipments to clean the pool. Is it not their lookout to follow up with the authorities and make the necessary arrangements?” a concerned person from Sanquelim questioned.
When Herald investigated into the entire story it was revealed that there are really no facilities being provided by the Sports Authority of Goa to the swimming pool for the last several years.
“There are no pipes to clean the pool and most of the time the old and lone motor is out of order. All the ladders in the pool are broken and they just have a very small pipeline to refill,” said Deepraj Parsekar from Sanquelim. “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 added.
“We don’t understand as to why the SAG is neglecting this place where they have spent so much of money,” Parsekar said “now it is the sports minister who should look into this and take the necessary action.”
When Herald contacted the swimming pool in-charge, Satish Naik he revealed that at present the pool is closed as the motor needs repairs.
“The pool is closed as the motor has been gutted and the work to get it fixed is going on,” said Satish Naik. “We have already sent the estimate to the SAG but have not received any reply. An estimate of about Rs 45 lakh has already been made by the SAG for repairs of the pool but we don’t know why they are not tendering it,” Naik added.
The Sanquelim Municipal Council chairman, Dharmesh Saglani also lamented over the sorry state of affairs of the pool. “This condition exists for more than a year now and almost three in-charges have been transferred but there is no change,” Saglani stated adding “Pratapsingh Rane gave the infrastructure to the people of Sanquelim but why the government is not able to maintain it? I would certainly take up the matter with the director and the sports minister,” Saglani added.
An attempt to contact the Sanquelim MLA, Dr Pramod Sawant proved futile as he was out of coverage.
