Pay Rs 600 for practice, swimmers told

MUMBAI, DEC 4: While the Maharashtra State Amateur Aquatic Association MSAAA and the Brihanmumbai Kreeda Ani Lalitkala Pratishthan Trust...

MUMBAI, DEC 4: While the Maharashtra State Amateur Aquatic Association MSAAA and the Brihanmumbai Kreeda Ani Lalitkala Pratishthan Trust agree to disagree, some swimmers were left feeling unwelcome on arrival here for the 54th National Aquatic Championships.

The issue came to the fore when some swimmers from Karnataka were charged Rs 600 for an hour8217;s practice on Friday at the Andheri Sports Complex where the meet starts tomorrow. The Trust, which runs the Complex, says it charged concessional rates while the swimmers found it difficult to understand why they had to pay to practice.

Joining the Karnataka group in grief were some from the Maharashtra squad who had to share the pool with the members of the Complex.

The Trust8217;s chief administrator Wing Commander retired VG Nerurkar said it was upto the MSAAA to take care of the swimmers and the payments. The Trust also refused to turn away members till the day the pool was booked by the MSAAA.

The MSAAA general secretary Prabhakar Gharat said they had made it clear to the various participating associations that the pool would be available only from Saturday, one day before the start of the competition. 8220;Nowhere will you get free practice pool,8221; he said.

Adding to the competitors8217; woes was the absence of accommodation. Some participants who arrived yesterday, were left to fend for themselves as there were no rooms booked for them. The Trust and the MSAAA which is conducting the meet graciously defended themselves.

A Trust office bearer said the MSAAA had booked the facilities, through a letter dated November 27, from December 4 onwards. Also, since New India Assurance NIA booked rooms in July, the Trust was unable to make space for the swimmers in the Complex at such short notice. But, it still gave 50 rooms today for the swimmers. Those who arrived yesterday were accommodated in a dormitory, said the office bearer, while NIA were asked to vacate a day earlier.

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Gharat questioned the Trust8217;s wisdom in providing rooms for a wedding being conducted in the premises when a National event was on.

8220;Even if we booked the facilities from December 4, how can you charge Rs 600 per hour ?8221; he asked. Nerurkar said the rate was concessional and that the Complex charged Rs 2000 for others.

The MSAAA, under stress due to lack of sponsorship, said the cash crunch would not have occurred if event manager Excel Enterprises had not failed in getting sponsors for the event as promised, leaving the MSAAA to fend themselves at short notice.

While the MSAAA looks for contributions from all quarters, swimmers pray for the successful completion of the event.