At PCMC pools, you're on your own

If you plan to seek a refreshing dive in a Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC)-run swimming pool, you better be aware. None of these swimming pools have life guards or trainers. What’s worse, these life guards are made to sell entry passes instead of keeping a watch on the swimmers.There are ten swimming pools in various parts of twin township. During summers, these pools see a huge rush, especially of children, who utilise the summer vacation to learn swimming.The absence of trainers leaves them with no option but to learn the sport on their own.The alternative for the PCMC-run swimming pools are their privately owned counterparts. However, they charge exorbitant rates ranging from Rs1,500-2,000 for twenty days of coaching.On the other hand, one is charged Rs10 per hour at PCMC pools. Hence, these enthusiasts throng the pool all day long.Subhash Machare, special welfare officer, said, “It is true that there are no trainers or coaches in these pools. The civic body is formulating its ten-point sports policy. Once it is ready, we will start recruiting trainers or coaches.”Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) corporator Avinash Tekawade, who recently conducted a survey of the PCMC-run swimming pools, said, “While there are five pools run by Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), there are 50 swimming instructors. Though the number is double in Pimpri-Chinchwad, there are no trainers available.” Sayali Deshmukh, a parent, said, “Though, PCMC had developed swimming tanks in almost every ward, yet the residents cannot avail the facility due to the lack of safety measures.”