MLA Vijai Sardessai during an inspection of the SAG swimming pool at Fatorda.
MARGAO
Giving a week's ultimatum, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardessai along with councillors has warned the government against ignoring their demands of commissioning of SAG swimming pools at Fatorda. They have decided to hit the street if their demands are not met.
"Even as summer started and it’s the best time of the year to experience refreshing swimming sessions, the champions from the Salcete taluka are compelled to dive into other swimming facilities for their daily practice session in the absence of an operational pool in the town," said Sardessai.
"Though these youths have brought glory to the district by bagging medals at district-level championships, they are deprived of availing the facility of a swimming pool for practising the sport. Thus, they rely on five-star hotels to hone their skills and tone up their muscles. The town’s lone swimming pool at Fatorda is not operational for long due to alleged apathy by the authorities," voiced the Fatorda MLA.
The Fatorda MLA said that though they had written letters to the sports minister and chief minister in this regard, nothing has come out of it. “I even raised the question in the August house requesting to expedite the matter, but nothing fruitful has happened so far,” Sardessai said.
Highlighting another issue, the MLA said, "A jogging track is a place of physical fitness. However post dusk, this track turns into a dark zone. The high mast lights have not been working for the past few months. Repeated calls and emails to the SAG have been to no avail," Sardessai said.
A few jogging track users claimed that while the lights have not been working for several months, some of the poles have been malfunctioning for the past two years. They said their complaints have been met with false assurances by the concerned department. “The jogging track is run down and needs immediate repairs. Cracks have appeared on the track which makes for a clumsy stroll," one user said.
Meanwhile, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat said that the swimming pool will be commissioned later this month.
