Noida residents want stricter rules for swimming pools

Following the death of nine-year-old Aditya Wardhan in a swimming pool mishap, a residents’ body has sought chief minister Akhilesh Yadav’s intervention in setting up stricter laws for swimming pools in the city.

The new era flat owners’ welfare association (NEFOWA) has written to the CM and the district administration, seeking their immediate intervention in the issue.

“Almost all residential highrise societies in Noida and Greater Noida have a swimming pool. They are poorly maintained and unprofessionally monitored. There is no rule to fix accountability of the builder. They always pass the blame onto a third party that takes care of the maintenance of the swimming pool,” Shweta Bharti, general secretary, NEFOWA, said.

“The death of a person should be an eye-opener for the government,” she said.

Nine-year-old Aditya had got stuck in the vent of the swimming pool at the Mahagun Moderne society in Sector 82 on June 29.

The lifeguard had failed to spot him for over five minutes. He died 10 days after the incident. Aditya was a student of class four at the Father Agnel School in Sector 62.

“We have requested the CM to look into the matter personally and ask the builders to ensure the safety of residents,” Abhishek Kumar, president of NEFOWA, said.

Asked about the demands of residents, district magistrate NP Singh said, “I have asked the officials concerned to check whether all the builders have followed the rules before constructing a swimming pool. If anyone is found at fault, the swimming pool will be seized with immediate effect.”

Following the orders of the DM, the swimming pool at Mahagun Moderne has been closed.

City magistrate Bacchu Singh, during the physical inspection of the swimming pool at the society, had found many faults in the design of the pool that led to Aditya’s death.

The builder claimed they have sought the response of the company that was responsible for maintenance of the pool.