200 hours. That’s the minimum period that each of the 330-odd students of the College of Engineering, Pune (CoEP) spend in the murky, smelly waters of the Mula-Mutha rivers, adjoining the college canteen.
While the students’ enthusiasm for their annual rowing event Regatta is so high that they ignore the pigs, dogs and filth at the practice site, faculty share grave concern for the students’ health. Hence, the college has started a river cleansing project simultaneously with the rowing practice.
“For nearly 50 days, our students daily practice here for four hours. Though the quality of water isn’t good, students haven’t complained. Nearly 30 college staffers, besides students, are cleaning the 1.5km river stretch for the event. We are putting ropes and wire mesh in the waters to check garbage,” said Sandip Meshram, the faculty incharge of event to be held on January 22.
While most students said that they have become used to the filthy waters, a few complained of smell and skin rashes. “As water gets splashed while rowing, we are nearly drenched within two hours. The water is repulsively dirty with all kinds of floating objects,” said a participant.
Another girl complained of getting skin rashes after she took the swim test, mandatory for two events. “The swim test is compulsory as the boat we use can overturn. The day I waded through the waters, I felt disgusted as I tasted some water,” she said.
This DNA reporter took a boat ride with a few faculty from CoEP and, boatman Dattatrey Pawar, who has been with the CoEP’s Boat Club for 37 years.
Pointing to a large skin rash on his left leg, Pawar claimed that it was due to the murky waters.
“I have seen bodies floating in these waters. Animal carcass, rotten flowers, hyacinths and plastic is a common sight,” said Pawar.
Taking the boat to the edge of the 1.5km stretch, he pointed out the difference in water quality in the two areas. There was a marked difference as the waters at the practice site had much less garbage due to continuous cleansing.
Meanwhile, this year’s ‘Regatta 2012 - Row to Win’ will have 330 participants and six rowing formations. In its 84th year, Regatta will follow the tradition with 12 types of boats, in the formation of an arrow, during the inauguration. Other events are formations by swift racing boats (shell games), poise balance colourful display (kayak ballet), fireworks display on canoe (tele matches), rhythmic calisthenics (mashaal dance) and punt formation.
“The highlight of this year’s Regatta is the unique quadruple scull, a rare wooden boat of which only a few pieces are remaining in India. The college has repaired this rare boat and will use it after 30 years,” said Bhimsen Padalkar, the head of the student committee.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}