Responding to an RTI query, BMC officials confirmed that out of four BMC-run swimming pools, two do not have a medical officer to tackle emergency situations. With the BMC claiming that 108 ambulances were deployed at these pools to tackle emergencies, sources clarified that the state government-run ambulances, partly also dealt with other emergencies in the suburbs and were not assigned for swimming pools in particular.
The four BMC-run swimming pools in the city, which are currently shut due to water shortage, are scheduled to open with the onset of monsoons. These include: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Swimming Pool (Kandivali), Mahatama Gandhi Jalataran Talao (Dadar), General Aunkumar Vaidya Swimming Pool (Chembur) and Ghatkopar Lions Swimming Pool (Ghatkopar).
Of these, only those at Dadar and Kandivali replied to the RTI query about number of medical superintendents posted to attend to medical emergencies in coming times when the pools would reopen. Shockingly, both swimming pools confirmed that while one vacancy had been created at Dadar and two at Kandivali for medical superintendents, none of them had been filled. The officials also added that BMC had offered a monthly wage of Rs 3,000 which apparently became one of the reasons for doctors staying away from the job.
Asked why the vacancies had not yet been filled, Dilip Shishupal, public information officer, BMC, Kandivali swimming pool, said, “For the past seven years, the post of medical officer is vacant. But the ambulance with a doctor and medical facility is on standby on the premises of the swimming pool, instead of appointment of MO.”
