Swimming pool: No safety guidelines

 BBMP map required for construction; no safety standards

Swimming pool: No safety guidelines

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್ 

Bengaluru: There are no safety standards to be followed in swimming pools in the city. BBMP and fire brigades do not have safety system guidelines to be adopted in swimming pools.

Swimming is a sport that everyone wants to learn. Swimming pools are a favorite for children. Even those who do not know to swim want to spend time in swimming pools and have fun. As the depth increases, swimming pools cause anxiety instead of fun. Government agencies have not indicated what kind of safety measures should be in swimming pools, which can only be enjoyed if they are safe.

Although BBMP has 16 swimming pools in the city, the number of these in luxury hotels, clubs, shopping malls, and apartments exceeds a few thousand. Although so many swimming pools are attractively built, the question arises as to how safe they are. What safety measures have been taken? Senior and junior officials of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike are not aware of the standards.

The BBMP, which has sufficient guidelines for the construction and maintenance of hotels, restaurants, bars-pubs, and paying guests (PGs), does not have separate guidelines for safety measures in swimming pools.

There are general standards that ‘the water level in the swimming pool should be entered on both sides of the pool, cleanliness should be maintained, there should be a tube system, and there should be a supervisor at all times’. However, no organization has given mandatory instructions that all this must be in place.

Luxury hotels, clubs, and some apartments have swimming instructors. Staff are always present to maintain them. However, this does not apply to all swimming pools. Most swimming pools do not have supervisors. In case of danger, there are no helpers nearby.

In 2023, a girl died of electric shock in a swimming pool on the outskirts of the city. At that time, some talk was made about the safety of the swimming pool, but no action was taken in the days that followed.

BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath refused to answer the question, ‘Are there standards for the safety of swimming pools?’

BBMP Swimming Pool Private Management

‘There are 16 swimming pools in the BBMP area. Their management has been given to the zones. However, they are not being managed by the corporation. They have been given to private individuals or organizations on an agreement. It has been said that necessary safety measures should be taken. But what measures have not been mentioned,’ said BBMP officials.

‘The complete information about the swimming pools in the corporation is not in the office of the Chief Commissioner or the  Engineer in Chief. They have been given to the zones, and information should be obtained from them. I do not know what measures have been taken regarding safety,’ he replied with a haughty tone.

Entry in the building plan

‘Apartments in the city have identified the area as a swimming pool when they get the building plan and have obtained permission. After that, it is not built everywhere as a swimming pool. It is used for other needs. We do not give much emphasis on it,” said BBMP urban planning officials.

“If any kind of construction including a swimming pool is to be done, it must have a plan approval. If it is not on the plan, then it must be approved before construction. However, we do not have any conditions regarding the implementation of safety measures,” they informed.

“We only see whether the safety measures that can be taken in the event of a fire disaster are implemented in buildings. The safety of the swimming pool does not come under our purview,” said fire department officials.

“There is an instruction for diseased control”

“The health department can issue instructions for the control of diseases that can arise and spread from swimming pool water. There is a rule that the cleanliness of the swimming pool can be maintained without harming health in any way. However, we need to check what rules are in place regarding safety and security,” said BBMP Health Department Special Commissioner Suralkar Vikas Kishore.

‘There should be strict measures’

‘Safety in swimming pools is of utmost importance. The same care that is taken while constructing a swimming pool should be given to its maintenance as well. Water can pose any danger. For this, safety measures should be strict. Government agencies should monitor to ensure that strict action is taken,’ demanded Chandrappa, a resident of Vijayanagar.