KWA Swimming Pool Changes Hands
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When the Kerala Water Authority Swimming Pool, at Vellayambalam, popularly referred to as Water Works Swimming Pool, is opened to the public on June 1, it will no longer be known by either of these names. For it is now part of Jimmy George Indoor Stadium and Aquatic Complex, managed by Sports and Youth Affairs Directorate, not KWA, as per a Government Order dated April 29.
With the change in management, comes a change in tariff. The proposed rate is Rs 2,000 per month. Non-members can use the pool after presenting a doctor’s certificate and identity proof documents at an hourly rate of Rs 100. The rates have been hiked from Rs 20 per day and Rs 275 per month - the rates fixed five years ago.
The cost of maintenance has increased and it is no longer maintained by KWA, a monthly water bill amounting to Rs 10,000 or more needs to be paid, according to the authorities. Electricity bill amounts to Rs 40,000 as the pool’s filtration plant needs to be operated regularly. The salary of trainer, life guards, cleaners, filtration plant technicians and other support staff will further increase the operation cost.
Additional Director S Nujumudeen said, “We won’t be able to afford the operation costs of the pool, if we bring the rate down.”
The tariffs, awaiting a nod from the state government, has been prepared after a comparative study of the swimming pools in the city. To use some of the pools at posh clubs, people in the city need to pay Rs 3,500 a month. The size of the pools is much smaller than that of the 8-track, 50m-long, 25m- wide one at Vellayambalam.
KWA Swimming Pool Users Association secretary Gopakumar B said, “Unlike those pools, the focus of the pool authorities is on public health and not making profit.” The association which has close to 300 members is eager to use the pool, but is hopeful that the tariff would be brought down.
School students can get trained at a concession. Students at government schools can avail themselves of the coaching facilities at the pool at Rs 500 a month. For other school students it is Rs 1,000 per month.
The pool will have a trainer and two life-guards. A summer camp was held at the pool complex in which close to 450 students participated and nine trainers offered service.
The decision to hand over the pool came after the Sports Directorate invested much in the renovation of the pool as it was the warm-up pool during the National Games. The land is still owned by Kerala Water Authority.
KWA MD said that Ajit Patil had said that KWA is in discussion with the Sports Directorate to see whether it needs to share some of the pool management responsibilities.