Irregularities unearthed in Meghalaya sports department, operation of swimming pool

Shillong, Sept 20: The Meghalaya government was asked to institute an inquiry and take action into alleged irregularities in the sports department in connection with the operation of Crinoline Swimming Pool.

The demand was made by a group of swimmers after detecting the irregularities based on information received through the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.

“We demand from the Sports & Youth Affairs minister Banteidor Lyngdoh to institute an inquiry and take action accordingly,” one of the local swimmers, Shemphang Lyngdoh told reporters here on Thursday.

The group had earlier submitted a complaint in March this year, but till date, there was no sign of action being taken by the state govenrment.

Lyngdoh said that findings through RTI revealed “benami transaction” with regards to a Cafeteria set up inside the premises of the Crinoline Swimming Pool.

“It was found out that the Meghalaya Aquatic Swimmers’ Association (MASA) had leased out the contract for running the cafeteria to the Polo Towers Limited on April 1, this year,” he said.

As per the report of the RTI, the State Sports Council (SSC) had allotted the contract to the MASA on September 25, last year on depositing of Rs 25,000 annually and Rs 2,000 as monthly rent.

“Interestingly, the MASA is earning Rs 12,000 as monthly rent from the Polo Towers Ltd which is running the cafeteria,” he said while demanding immediate closing down of the cafeteria til the irregularities are addressed.

The local swimmers also alleged the authorities of the sports department of violating the rules by entertaining “unregistered” sports associations to run the Crinoline Swimming Pool. He was referring to the MASA and also the Meghalaya Swimmers’ Association (MSA).

“I wonder how the SSC is entertaining such associations when in the RTI reply, it states that there was no information whether these associations are registered with the Register of Society. The question also arises how these associations are allowed to be affiliated with the Meghalaya State Olympic Association (MSOA),” he said.

However, Lyngdoh said the RTI states that only in the year 2011, the Meghalaya Swimmers Association (MSA) collected Rs 1.70 lakh from entry tickets and Rs 1.72 lakh from membership fees adding “But it was made clear that the department had not leased out the Pool to anybody since 2009.”

“Instead of promoting swimming as a sport, the department seems to be more interested in commercial activities,” he said.

The RTI findings further revealed that one person was appointed for two jobs in the department in 2015.

“The State Sports Council had appointed one Nigrak Momin as casual staff at the swimming pool, and the same person was engaged as a lifeguard at the swimming pool by the Director of Sports and Youth Affairs. He was paid Rs 5,000 each by the two authorities,” Anthony Nongbri said while quoting the RTI report.

According to him, such action on the part the department has to a great extent affected other unemployed youth to get job.