SHILLONG: A resident of Lower Mawprem, Michael Pakyntein, has petitioned the Sports Minister, Banteidor Lyngdoh, urging him to ensure that the Crinoline swimming pool is used only for swimming purposes keeping in mind the upcoming National Games, 2022.
In a letter to the sports minister, Pakyntein said that lately a private cafeteria called Hoitea Toitea has been operating on the swimming pool premises on lease by the government but no one was aware about the move and not even a tender was floated for the same.
Regretting that the cafeteria permits smoking of cigarettes and hookah which goes against the tenets of a sporting arena, he added that the cafeteria is so expensive that swimmers cannot even afford a cup of tea there as it costs Rs 100.
Stating that entertainment programmes are also organised there occasionally which affects the schedule of the swimmers who come there to practise, he further suggested to the minister to construct another swimming pool elsewhere for recreational purpose.