Journalism of Courage
After more than five years of work by over 270 engineer plants,which involved excavating 10 lakh cubic metres of earth,the 2.2-km rowing channel at the College of Military Engineering (CME),Dapodi,is ready. While phase one of the construction has already been completed,the second phase,which will incorporate international standard infrastructure to support rowing,is expected to be completed in a month. The first dedicated rowing channel in South Asia and the only one in Asia besides China,the CME rowing channel is all set to host the first National Championship in January next year.
Col Y K Ahuja,officer-in- charge,rowing,said,Army Rowing Node (ARN) was established at CME in 2001 as part of Chief of the Army Staffs vision to train Army oarsmen to win medals at the Olympics. The construction of the only international standard multi-lane rowing channel is complete and that of its allied infrastructure is nearing completion.
The first phase of construction of the 2.2 kmx135 metre rowing channel began in 2007. Over 270 engineer plants,meaning equipment,were pressed into service as 10 lakh cubic metres of earth was excavated. While the excavation was completed and the channel,along with the administrative building,were ready by 2009,the first time water was filled into the channel was in 2010. The channel has a maximum depth of 3.5 metres and there are 10 lanes eight lanes for boats and two service lanes. All other channels are located near a river or canal as its feeders,but this is the only channel away from any water body where water is collected from rainwater. Besides,the only source of water for the channel is a canal that pours water into it,making up for losses due to evaporation. The canal flows beneath the channel, said Ahuja.
Phase two of the construction,which involves a start tower,aligners hut,timing hut,600- people viewers gallery,finish hut,boat sheds and jetties,is nearing completion. Oarsmen from the Indian Army are being trained at ARN. The node has produced oarsmen who have represented India in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics,besides medal winners at the Asian Games and Asian Championships. CME is the nodal agency for Rowing for Olympics 2012 and we have high hopes for Swarn Singh,who will be competing in the Asian qualifiers for the Olympics in April. The channel has facilitated intensive training of oarsmen who practice at the channel in two sessions under Olympians and medal winners as trainers, said Ahuja. An inaugural inter-club regatta was conducted at the channel from January 16-8.
