Odisha swimmers, MP Tathagata protest closure of swimming pool complex

KalingaTV News Network

Bhubaneswar: BJD MP Tathagata Satpathy on Thursday joined swimmers, players, hostel inmates and other users in protesting the Odisha government move to close down the swimming pool complex in Kalinga Stadium for an indefinite period to re-model it for the upcoming Hockey World Cup.

The Dhenkanal Parliamentarian took to Twitter to express his displeasure over the state government’s notification and suggested the government should maintain it through a Public Private Partnership.

Why on earth would any one do this? Kids learn swimming there. Do PPP for maintenance instead.vehemently oppose this move of the state Govt.

— Office of T Satpathy (@SatpathyLive) September 20, 2017

Friends called from Bhubaneswar all worried that the 2 main swimming pools at Kalinga stadium are to be demolished 2moro. For WC Hockey! pic.twitter.com/ynoCgSZZUm

— Office of T Satpathy (@SatpathyLive) September 20, 2017

Professional swimmers and sportspersons staged a dharna on the premises of Kalinga Stadium today demanding immediate withdrawal of the notification issued by the Sports and Youth Affairs department.

Expressing displeasure and concern for her career, Odisha’s ace swimmer Pratyasa Ray said, “My career would be affected if the Swimming Pool Complex is closed as I have chosen swimming as my career. I am swimming since 2005 and I have been using the swimming pool complex in Kalinga Stadium since 2009. The state government should have taken some alternative step for us.”

“We do not protest the state government’s decision to set up a spectator stand for the upcoming hockey tournament. However, the state government should also take alternative steps for the swimming pool. Without doing so, the Sports and Youth Affairs department has issued a notification. This will immensely affect the swimmers and users. The state government should reconsider its decision,” said a user of the swimming pool complex in Kalinga Stadium.

The Sports and Youth Affairs department issued a notification on the matter, which read, “As per the decision of Sports and Youth Services Department, all activities in the Swimming Pool Complex would be ceased with effect from 20/09/2017 until further orders for complete renovation of the complex.”