Noida: The Unlikely Struggle to Open Swimming Pools

A recent directive has left hundreds of residential societies in Noida struggling to open their swimming pools on time, all due to the inability to find a woman coach. The new mandate, implemented in January, requires residential pools to appoint women lifeguards and trainers and obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) to promote women’s safety and inclusion.

• The guidelines also include installation of CCTV cameras, building separate changing rooms for men and women, and an intimation to the department about the operator or agency maintaining the facility.

Despite compliance being smoother for institutional setups such as schools and academies, residential apartment complexes have faced logistical and financial challenges in implementing the new guidelines.

Location	Number of Pools	Number of Pools Obtained NOC	Pending NOC Applications
Noida District	600	45	555

According to Anita Nagar, deputy district sports officer, there are around 600 swimming pools in the district, and only 45 swimming pools, primarily in schools, sports academies, and a few hotels, have obtained clearance, hundreds of residential facilities remain non-compliant. Pressure from Residents
The crisis over closed swimming pools in Noida societies has deepened, with residents across housing societies demanding to know why their pools remain shut. At Pan Oasis Society in Sector 70, AOA president Sunil Yadav said there is pressure from residents demanding to know why their pool remains shut.

AOA president Sunil Yadav said the NOC has been pending for over a month due to the society’s inability to hire a woman lifeguard, a mandatory requirement.

The swimming pool maintenance agency quoted Rs 30,000 per month for the salary of the lifeguard, a cost Yadav said would blow the AOA’s budget.

Yadav added, “With the NOC withheld and no resolution in sight, residents are left without respite from the sweltering heat, exacerbating tensions as summer drags on.”
A similar situation exists at Eldeco Amantran society in Sector 119, where president Nikhil Singhal said that their pool also remains shut.

Singhal said that their pool also remains shut.

He added, “We are planning to write to the district administration to look into the matter as none of our 15-member societies have got the NOC even though we applied in the first week of April.”

The impact is not limited to residential societies; even some schools and academies have struggled to comply with the new guidelines.

In Sector 93’s Purvanchal Silver City, president Umashankar Sharma said that the NOC bottleneck has been a source of repeated questions from residents.

Sharma added, “The job of AOA representatives is becoming challenging with increasing queries. Some societies have opened without getting an NOC, and that is when our society residents start asking us why we haven’t opened.”

A few societies have managed to meet the criteria and have opened their pools already. One such example is Exotica Fresco in Sector 137.

Exotica Fresco, which obtained its NOC in March, was able to open its pool after hiring a woman lifeguard.

The Noida Federation of Apartment Owners’ Associations (NOFAA) confirmed the widespread impact, with president Rajiva Singh stating that nearly 50% of societies remain unable to open pools due to the shortage of women coaches and lifeguards.

Singh added that the sudden enforcement has created chaos, and a centralized database of certified woman trainers would help societies comply.

Singh stated that a centralized database of certified woman trainers would help societies comply.

However, he also acknowledged that a few societies have managed to meet the criteria and have opened their pools already.

He added, “The administration, before putting this condition, must have given a window period for the next session so that AOAs are mentally prepared. Also, for such a requirement, women should be encouraged for training and employment. No doubt this move is good for women empowerment and employment; however, the timings are not correct.”

The Noida Federation of Apartment Owners’ Associations (NOFAA) has urged the district administration to reconsider the timeline and provide more time for societies to comply with the new guidelines.

“The administration must understand the challenges faced by societies in complying with the new guidelines, and take necessary steps to alleviate the burden,” said Singh.

The district administration has assured that it will take necessary steps to address the concerns of societies and facilitate compliance with the new guidelines.

“We will work with the societies to address their concerns and facilitate compliance with the new guidelines,” said Anita Nagar, deputy district sports officer.

The crisis over closed swimming pools in Noida societies is expected to continue until the societies are able to comply with the new guidelines. As the summer heat intensifies, the struggle to open swimming pools continues, leaving residents without respite from the heat. The Noida district administration must take necessary steps to address the concerns of societies and facilitate compliance with the new guidelines to ensure the safety and well-being of residents.

Key Challenges

• The shortage of women coaches and lifeguards. • The cost of hiring a woman lifeguard, which can be a significant burden for societies. • The lack of a window period for societies to prepare for the new guidelines.

Conclusion

The crisis over closed swimming pools in Noida societies is a pressing issue that requires immediate attention from the district administration. The administration must work with societies to address their concerns and facilitate compliance with the new guidelines. Only then can the Noida district ensure the safety and well-being of its residents. The struggle to open swimming pools in Noida societies is not just about the facilities themselves, but about the well-being and safety of the residents.