Splashing News! Swim or Dive-the Renovated MCC Ozonized & PH Controlled Pool Opens
Mangaluru: Not Breaking News but Splashing News! Get ready to Swim or Dive into the Rs 1.5 Crore renovated Mangaluru City Corporation Swimming Pool which was inaugurated on February 16, minister U T Khader. This completed Swimming Pool and all other peripheral development works pertaining to it are ready to function as of today. The new ozonization plant has been installed at a price of Rs 98 lakhs, and the total cost for all the renovation is estimated about Rs 1.5 crore- but everyone says “It’s a good investment, since many youth are very talented in swimming and have won laurels to the District, and now they could practice better in this upgraded pool.
The inauguration of the Ozonization and Potential Hydrogen (PH) Controlled Plant was inaugurated by Minister U T Khader, along with MLC Ivan D’souza, MCC Mayor Bhasker K, MLA South Vedavyas Kamath, Former MCC Mayor Sashidhar Hegde, MCC Commissioner Mohammed Nazeer, MCC Deputy Mayor Mohammed Kunjathbail, MCC Corporators- Lancelot Pinto, Ms Sabitha Misquith, Appi, Jayanthi Achar, among many others.
Addressing the gathering U T Khader said, “Mangaloreans, especially the swimmers should be happy that they have a safe and high quality/high standard swimming pool for their use. I have close relationship with this pool, for being trained to swim at this pool, and also that my grandfather had undertaken part of the construction of this pool decades ago. With this renovated state-of-the-art pool, the local citizens and youth can benefit a lot- and even out of town people can also make avail of this pool. Even though we have talented swimmers who have won laurels locally, now they can improve their talents in this renovated pool and reach greater heights by winning laurels nationally and internationally. We are planning to construct a International Standard Swimming Pool-the govt has money to lend for the project, but finding a suitable land for it has been a hassle, but will implement this project soon. Make the best use of this pool, because it has been specially constructed for you”.
MCC Mayor Bhasker K and MLC Ivan D’souza also spoke, and requested the citizens to make avail all the facilities provided here, and support the project with their active participation. On the occasion, Ramesh, who has been at the helm as Manager of this Pool for the last 33 years was felicitated by the minister and other dignitaries on the dais. And the two persons at MCC, Executive Engineer Gururaj Muralihalli and Assistant Engineer Rajesh Kumar, who were in-charge of this renovation project were also recognized for their efforts on the occasion. The programme was compered by RJ Prasanna.
Speaking to Team Mangalorean, Gururaj and Rajesh briefing on this project said, “The ozonization plant was set up on a 25 cents vacant land which was adjacent to the swimming pool. After dismantling the old filter plant, which was filtering water for the pool earlier, has been now installed with this state-of-the-art imported ozonization equipment, which will benefit the MCC in expenses wise. The new plant will save nearly Rs 50 lakh per year for MCC since it does not require replacement of water from the pool every six months”.
“With this new plant, water from the pool can be replaced once in two or three years, instead of six months as it was earlier. The new plant will make water in the pool crystal clear. A contract to maintain this plant has been handed over to Walrus Pools and Fitness Pvt Ltd, a firm based in Bengaluru, who will keep the pool free from algae and make it safe for swimmers. This pool has the size of 50 mts X 15 mts, with depth from 15 ft to 4 ft. Diving could be done from a height of either 32 ft or 14 ft. The pool has the capacity of storing 25 lakhs litres of water” added both the MCC engineers.
The Swimming pool was opened in 1987 when Ms Margaret Alva was the Sports Minister, and was inaugurated by the then Mayor C K Bantwal along with MLC Blasius D’souza. Since July 2018 the pool was closed for the public due to the renovation work, and now the work is completed in said time. Now that the pool is open is some good news for the swimmers, especially the youth who were eagerly waiting for this day to come.
The present swimming fee for swimmers is Rs 20, and monthly pass is charged at Rs 400. Entry fee for children and senior citizens is Rs 10 per session and Rs 200 per month.