THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the representatives of local bodies in the district being shocked time and again by the drowning of children in their areas, several initiatives were taken locally in building new swimming pools or renovating existing ponds.
The Karavaram swimming pool at Kilimanoor is one such new infrastructure and Nandiyodu pond which was transformed into a new pool by sports council was the latest addition in Thiruvananthapuram. This is apart from the new pool at Pallichal and pond renovation at Aryanad.
“Close to eight people from Karavaram panchayat drowned at various water bodies in Aruvikkara and Edava. So since 2011, we were on this project to have a pool. We collected over Rs 99 lakh using funds from various stakeholders like World Bank, Sport Council and block panchayat to build a pool in 2015. It is strategically located close to the state highway at Kilimanoor,” said former Karavaram panchayat president Subhash.
The panchayats charge between Rs 600 and 800 for training. Similarly, several temple ponds around Pirappancode give scientific training. Koithoorkonam pond near Managalapuram which has witnessed deaths of schoolchildren were renovated and made shallow to give training to children.
The first pool to be renovated as training facility in Thiruvananthapuram was Konathukulangara pond near PTP Nagar under the city corporation which happened to be the ward of former deputy Mayor Happy Kumar. “While local ponds are not an alternative swimming pools, if natural water replenishments and treatments are made available they can serve the purpose. The pools at Karumom and Veli areas run by private parties and government have earlier been in the spot light for frequent contamination,” says R. Gopalakrishan, a certified swimming coach.
