Standard pools lacking in City

CHANDIGARH, April 7: The various swimming pools in the city will re-open in the second week of April. However, out of half-a-dozen pools,...

CHANDIGARH, April 7: The various swimming pools in the city will re-open in the second week of April. However, out of half-a-dozen pools, which are functional every year, only half the number have proper facilities where the swimmers can hone their skill for competitions. A few pools, however, are not of standard size and are meant only for causal swimming.

The only standard pool 50m X 21m, however, is at the Punjab University Campus. The complex also has spring boards for diving. The height of the boards are one and three and 6.5 and 10 metres. There is also a separate pool for the beginners.

The pool at PU is open to university students and faculty members and has two coaches and one life guard. There is, however, provision for the outsiders to avail the facilities.

The Nursery and Yoga swimming pools in Sector 23 provide facilities for regular swimmers. Both the pools are run by the Chandigarh Sports Department. The fee for students is Rs 200 per season while it is Rs 500 for non-students. The forms for this season are available at the pools site, in the evening from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The size of the Nursery swimming pool is 20m X 15m while Yoga swimming pool dimension are 25m X 15m.

Pools at the Chandigarh Golf Club, the Lake Club and the Chandigarh Press Club are for casual swimmers. Due to their size, training on professional line is not possible.

The pool at the Golf Club, however, is only for members of the Chandigarh Golf Club and their dependents.

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Similarly, Lake Club and Chandigarh Press Club pools are also open to members only and their guests.

Pool at Government College, Sector 11, which was reopened last year after a gap more than a decade, however, will start functioning in May.

There is also a swmming pool at the Punjab Engineering College.

In SAS Nagar the swimming pool is in Phase VI whose dimensions are 25m X 15m and will start on April 15. The complex, however, also have a kiddies pool which will start functioning from this year and a diving board.

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The Gymkhana Club pool at Panchkula is 25m X 20m and will also re-open from Aprill 15. The membership fee is Rs 600 per season for the members. For non-members it is Rs 1200. There is monthly fee also.

There is also a standard size pool at Chandimandir. However, it only caters to the needs of the defence personnel.