By Our Reporter
Shillong: To pave the way for setting up of a national standard swimming pool in the state, the government is all set to float the tenders for extension of the Crinoline Swimming Pool to upgrade it to a 50 metre pool with four additional lanes taking the number of lanes to eight.
Talking to this scribe here on Thursday, Deputy Chief Minister also incharge of Sports and Youth Affairs minister, BM Lanong said the Rs 1.70 crore project which has already been approved by the government will give a face-lift to the existing swimming pool raising its standard to national levels.
“This pool will make way for competitive swimming and act as a training and coaching centre for budding and potential swimmers of the state”, Lanong said.
Lanong also informed that the government is also contemplating construction of a new swimming pool costing around Rs 6-7 crore at Mawdiangdiang where the multi-sports complex would be built.
However, the idea of the State Government to dismantle the Crinoline Swimming Pool did not go well with many citizens including Mait Shaphrang Movement (MSM) convener Michael Syiem who is of the opinion that the Government should construct the state-of-the-art 50 metre swimming pool either in Mawdiangdiang or some other place instead of dismantling the Crinoline pool.
According to citizens, the Crinoline pool was constructed by the British in 1940s primarily for the British soldiers who were wounded during World War II and should be considered as a heritage site.
Reacting to this, the Sports minister said the department will consult the matter with the Meghalaya Swimmers Association and other sports lovers in detail.
