Several highly anticipated projects by the civic body are set for inauguration and will soon be made available to the public. The all-weather swimming pool and the construction and demolition waste plant have been completed, while the basketball court is nearing its final stages. Officials indicated that it will require an additional week to finish the outstanding work.
The construction and demolition (C&D) waste plant established in Dhandhari was originally planned under the Smart City Mission but was later adopted under the Swachh Bharat Mission due to rising costs and modifications in the project structure. The initial project cost was estimated at Rs 2.69 crore; however, the site designated for the project was found to be a dumpsite, necessitating the construction of pillars and the removal of debris.
This situation resulted in an increase in the overall project cost. Ultimately, the tender was awarded for Rs 7.30 crore, with an extra Rs 2.20 crore allocated for machinery, which was acquired under the Smart City Mission. The plant, built by the civic body, will have the capability to process a minimum of 100 tons of construction waste daily. Officials mentioned that after the waste is crushed, the contractor will produce various products, such as tiles.
The C&D waste plant is critically needed in the city, as ongoing construction activities lead to piles of rubble scattered throughout. The civic body made efforts to designate locations for waste disposal, but these attempts were unsuccessful, and waste is even visible in green belt areas.
The all-weather swimming pool has long been a requested facility in the city, as residents lacked a venue for swimming during the winter season. Only a limited number of clubs and private establishments feature all-weather pools. This has hindered swimming enthusiasts, particularly athletes, from practicing.
The newly constructed all-weather pool is located near Rakh Bagh, adjacent to the existing MC pool, which operates during the summer months. This facility was built under the Smart City Mission at a cost of Rs 5.82 crore, with a depth of 4.5 feet on one end and 6 feet on the other. The third initiative involves the basketball court at Guru Nanak Stadium, which has a budget of Rs 14.38 crore under the Smart City Mission. Completion of this project is expected to take an additional week.
It has already surpassed several deadlines, and currently, two courts are nearly finished. MC commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal stated, “The swimming pool is complete, and anyone interested in using it is welcome to do so. We have also performed trial operations of the C&D waste plant, which will commence shortly. However, the basketball court will require more time before it is operational.
It will also be initiated in due course.” With the MC having developed sports facilities, including a table tennis court, basketball court, and all-weather swimming pool, officials are now considering transferring the management of these projects to private entities for effective maintenance.
