A costly affair at private pools

People planning to take a splash in swimming pools now need to cough up at least Rs 300-Rs 500 extra as compared to last year as private pools in the city increased the rates due to the raise in power tariff.

M Dilip who runs the Pioneer Swimming pool in Sainikpuri says, “The increase of Rs 2 per unit has affected pool owners. Most of the pools are 25 metres in length and depend on borewells for pumping water. The electricity bills are between Rs 26,000 to Rs 30,000 per month. So we have to naturally increase the rates.”

With the seven Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) swimming pools running to full capacity, people have to depend on private pools. Umesh of Vijayanagar Colony Sports Complex pool run by GHMC says, “The rates are affordable as we charge only Rs 500, but we can accommodate only 50 at a time and have eight batches a day.”

Raghuveeran, a resident of Warasiguda says, “I wanted to admit my children at a GHMC swimming pool but it is always full. I need to spend Rs 3,000 per month in private pools.”

Most of the GHMC pools are 25 metres in length except the Gurumurthy pool in Secunderabad, which is 50 metres and accommodates 100 swimmers at a time.