Trivandrum: There used to be a public swimming pool near Vellayambalam, under the Kerala Water Authority. A modest pool in terms of size and standards, this very pool had been the place where a sizable number of the city population had learnt their first swimming lessons.

Then the announcement came that Kerala was to host the 35th National Games. Plans were charted. Castles were built in the air, and the government closed down the pool along with an inspiring promise of giving it back to the people - a bigger, grander, and an exquisite pool.

File Photo: Old swimming pool

If you could find time to visit the place where this old swimming pool used to be, the remnants you see of what was once a pool is bound to hit you like a bolt. There is no pool, or anything remotely resembling it. What you would see are two huge pits, one filled with dirt, and the other intermittently layered with what is left over of the tiles that adorned a once functioning swimming pool. An explanation on what took place over this place will sound both ridiculous and tragic at the same time. The story goes something like this...

The plan that was approved by the government proposed to remove the filter plant functioning adjacent to the swimming pool, and use that space to widen the 18 metre-wide swimming pool to 25 metres. With renovated galleries and improved facilities, the water works swimming pool was to be upgraded to meet international standards – a beautiful dream. A dream that has a lot of awakening to do to bear fruit!

File Photo: Open end of the drainage running along the construction site

After demolishing the filter plant, thereby putting the current swimming pool out of commission, the pit to widen the swimming pool was dug. And guess what – miraculously they found that a major pipeline carrying drinking water was passing through right underneath the very same place! Yes, the concerned authorities were completely unaware of its existence. So, now the pipe had to be re-laid, and it required additional funds, which couldn't be found. Net result – no swimming pool, no renovation works, and certainly no reply from any of the concerned authorities.