Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Apr 27: The long-cherished dream of the city to have an international level swimming pool of its own is likely to be realized soon. A team of technical experts have drawn up blue print for the swimming pool costing six crore rupees. Foundation stone for the swimming pool will be laid soon, it is gathered.

Out of 3.25 acres the government had at Yemmekere, two acres had been ceded to the department of youth empowerment and sports for the construction of international standard swimming pool a few years back. Out of this, one acre would be used to build the swimming pool, while the remaining land will be used as sports stadium.

In this one-acre plot, a 50-metre, ten-lane swimming pool will come up. By its side, another swimming pool with a length of 25 metres will be laid for warming up by swimmers. A separate ten-metre swimming pool meant exclusively for children will also be built side by side.

On both sides of the 50-metre swimming pool, spectators galleries will be built to accommodate 1,000 viewers on each side for use during competitions. An underground parking lot that can hold around 100 cars will be built below the swimming pools. Former chairman of Mangaluru Urban Development Authority, K Tejomaya, said that this land had been set aside for swimming pool when he was MUDA chairman, and he and some others have been working relentlessly with minister, Abhay Chandra Jain, to see that the pool comes up at the earliest.

A fund of Rs 3.5 crore, which was saved out of grants received for the national youth festival held in 2012, will be used to fund a part of project cost of this project. Minister Jain has promised to meet the balance amount from the state government, it is gathered.