Kurukshetra University to construct all-weather swimming pool at Rs 8 cr

Tribune News Service

Nitish Sharma

Kurukshetra, February 19

Budding swimmers of Kurukshetra University and its affiliated colleges will soon get the facility of an all-weather Olympic-size swimming pool at the institute. The university has received a grant of Rs 8 crore under the Khelo India Scheme for the project.

To benefit 13,000 students of VARSITY, affiliated colleges

}We have received a grant of Rs 8 crore for the project. A DPR is being prepared and soon a tender will be floated. Nearly 13,000 students of the university and affiliated colleges will be able to use the facility. After getting the facility, the university will be able to stake its claim to organising Khelo India University Games on its campus. — Rajesh Sobti, Sports Director, KU

An official said the proposal for the project had been submitted by the university to the mission directorate of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, under Khelo India Infrastructure Development Scheme. After seeing the past record and achievements of the institute in sports, the project has been approved and a detailed project report (DPR) is being prepared.

The official added: “It will be an all-weather pool, where we will also provide heat pumps to accommodate swimming throughout the year. The site for the project has been finalised. The importance of swimming is not just for competitions, but it is also a life skill and we want that every student learn this skill.”

“It helps in inculcating a sense of confidence and enables in helping others in untoward situations. The facility will help the university identify hidden talent and produce future champions for the state and country,” the official said.

The existing swimming pool in the university was built in 1976 with Olympics standard and its water filter plant was recently changed at a cost of Rs 20 lakh. Since it was not an all-weather pool, the students were not able to use the facility during winters. Due to the lack of practice, they were not able to win competitions, whereas swimming contributes major points in the prestigious Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) trophy, the official said.

Kurukshetra University Sports Director Rajesh Sobti said: “The institute has received a grant of Rs 8 crore for the project. A DPR is being prepared and soon a tender will be floated. Nearly 13,000 students of the university and affiliated colleges will be able to use the facility.”

“The pool will be constructed as per the standards of FINA (Fédération Internationale de Natation), which is the governing body for pools. It will be ready by December 2025. After getting the facility, the university will be able to submit its claim to organise Khelo India University Games on its campus,” he said.

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