Swimming pool cries for attention

Tirunelvalli:The roof of the facility has huge holes.The swimming poll at Courtallam, established at a cost of Rs. 40 lakh four years ago, deserves attention. It was set up to entertain tourists whenever the season at Courtallam turned out to be dull owing to scanty rainfall in the Western Ghats.The former Collector, Sunil Paliwal, mooted the proposal for constructing a swimming pool adjacent to the Courtallam special panchayat office.

A filtration plant to ensure clean water for the pool, bathrooms, dressing rooms and angled benches were also set up.Curved green fibreglass reinforced plastic roofing was provided to prevent leaves from the nearby tress falling into the water. Fancy lights were also set up around the pool.The facility was inaugurated just before the 2003 season and it generated significant revenue for the special panchayat.A sum of Rs. 25 per hour was the charge. Swimming competitions on various categories were being conducted as part of the week-long ‘Saaral Thiruvizhaa.’

With the commencement of season, tourists have started to arrive here but are disappointed to see the condition of the facility.Big holes on the roof allow leaves and twigs fall into the water. A thin film of oil on the surface of the water is also evident.According to local body officials, two lakh litres of water has to pumped out and refilled every time the pool has to be cleaned. The charges running to Rs. 8,000 is a hefty for the town panchayat.The chairperson of Coutrallam town panchayat, R. Revathi, said that the pool would be cleaned in the next couple of days.