Daijiworld Media Network- Panaji

Panaji, Apr 15: Swimmers at the government-run pool in Quepem have been expressing their concerns over deteriorating water quality, calling it unsafe and unhealthy for training. Regular swimmers claim the pool's condition has worsened over the past three months, making it increasingly difficult to train, with little response from the authorities despite repeated complaints.

The pool, managed by the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs (DSYA), has seen swimmers face a series of problems, particularly with the clarity of the water. "The water is so murky that you can't even see where you are swimming. It's a safety concern, especially when you could end up colliding with the wall," said Soha Dalal, a 14-year-old swimmer who has represented Goa at multiple national events.

Soha, who has participated in several School Nationals, also criticized the poor method of adding chlorine. "The chlorine is directly thrown in as powder, which is harmful. It should first be dissolved before being added to the pool. I’ve had rashes and eye irritation because of this," she said.

Even national-level swimmers are voicing their frustration, as the poor state of the pool has been affecting their training routines. Hansel Moniz, another regular swimmer, pointed out that the maintenance staff, who double as lifeguards, often neglect the cleaning of algae on the pool's sides. "They say it’s a two-man job, but it could be cleaned in half an hour. The lack of proper maintenance means if a swimmer faces trouble at the deep end, lifeguards might not even notice," Moniz said.

Swimmers note that these issues are more prevalent during the summer months when demand for the pool is high. A senior official at the pool confirmed the problems, including malfunctioning pumps, which have been contributing to the water quality issues. "There are four pumps, each costing around Rs 25,000. We have informed the higher-ups and engineers have been deployed to address the problem. We hope to resolve it soon," the official added.

Despite these assurances, swimmers remain skeptical about the timely resolution of the issues, which continue to affect their training and safety.