Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday accused Sports Minister Govind Gaude of fooling the people of the capital city and Goa by faking an “inauguration” of the Campal swimming pool complex in July 2022, when in fact nothing is working at the pool complex and no one is able to use it as of today.
The so-called inauguration was nothing but a theatrical production by Gaude, who is also Art and Culture Minister, AAP Goa Vice President Valmiki Naik alleged.
“The starting blocks from which swimmers dive into each lane, have disappeared after the inauguration. The filtration plant which was claimed to be as per international standard, is not working. The new access road and entry from which media persons were welcomed during the inauguration, is no longer functional. The complex looks like a construction site which is far from complete. The entire inauguration was a farce, with props and equipment displayed for the media event only, as if it was a play or Tiatr,” Naik told reporters.
He claimed that even the renovation of the pools is not actually complete, and there is major leakage due to which 8-10 tankers are replenishing the water on a daily basis.
“Campal SAG swimming pool complex was used by not just the residents of Panaji but neighbouring villages like Santa Cruz, Porvorim, Taleigao etc. The swimming pool was shut down for the public for three years for renovation purposes. State swimmers faced tremendous inconvenience due to its shut down. Their training was hindered and they faced a lot of problems travelling to other swimming pools,” he said.
Naik demanded that the Campal SAG swimming pool complex should be opened not only to Khelo India Swimmers but also to the general public at the earliest, as enough time and money has been wasted by the Minister on this project.
