THERE is a good news for swimming fraternity of the city. The swimming pool of Maharashtra Kamgar Kalyan Mandal situated on the premises of Kamgar Kalyan Bhavan, Raje Raghuji Nagar might soon be a centre of water-sport activities and regain its old charm. The popular place, that was once a swimming powerhouse and produced national and international talents who brought glory to the city but has remained shut for the past five years following the COVID-19 pandemic, will be operational soon.

 

The Maharashtra Kamgar Kalyan Mandal Head Office at Prabhadevi has floated an advertisement calling e-tender for the running and maintenance of the said swimming pool from reputed and experienced agencies by March 12 evening. If all goes well, the swimming pool might be functional within a couple of months. “The agency finalisation is in the advanced stage. We are ensuring all technical and financial aspects are properly vetted. The work order is going to be issued within next month so that actual repair work can commence at the earliest,” said Pratibha Bhakre, Assistant Welfare Commissioner while talking to

 

‘The Hitavada’. She, however, did not feel it right to pin-point exact dates. POOL IN ROUGH WATERS! With no activity since the COVID days, the stagnant water turned the facility into a breeding ground for mosquitoes, prompting repeated complaints from nearby residents. In response, the authorities eventually drained the pool completely. Prolonged exposure to intense summer heat severely damaged the flooring tiles, rendering the structure unfit and unsafe for use. Alternatives like the NIT pool at Ambazari reopened in 2022 but many could not afford it for various reasons including time, distance and financial ones. With no other affordable quality poor, young swimmers turned to Ambazari Lake despite pollution, erratic weather, lack of supervision and serious dangers, especially for divers. Police restrictions added hurdles, yet determined athletes persisted to safeguard their careers. “

 

The prolonged unavailability of proper pools like the one at Kamgar Kalyan has forced our young swimmers into risky open-water training, stalling their progress and endangering lives. Immediate reopening with upgrades is essential to revive Nagpur’s swimming ecosystem,” said noted international coach Sanjay Batwe, also head of Shark Aquatic Sports Association. “The shutdown left coaches, lifeguards, maintenance staff and others jobless, deeply affecting the local swimming community,” Batwe lamented. The pool was very popular among East Nagpur residents and those from kamgar (employees in factories, commercial establishments, and transport services) community. Swimming is among various welfare activities run by the mandal. It provides various classes including music, dance, yoga, karate and vocational training. The tender process has ignited a positive vibe in the swimming fraternity that hopes there is splash in the pool before the Sun starts beating hard.