MUMBAI, May 18 -- Paying members of the BMC-run General Arun Kumar Vaidya Swimming Pool in Chembur are upset about alleged mismanagement which led to the pool remaining shut for nearly a month over a leakage issue. The closure has affected around 5,000 members, both families and regular swimmers, who complained that the pool was abruptly shut ahead of the summer vacation. After the issue was first flagged by activist Anil Galgali, residents alleged that despite the pool being closed since mid-April, no visible repair work had begun at the site and even the source of the leakage had not been identified. Adding to the anxiety is the BMC's implementation of a 10 per cent water cut amid looming water shortage concerns. Citizens fear that reopening such public recreational facilities may face further delays due to restrictions on water usage. Concerns are also being raised about the Mulund swimming pool, which has remained shut for almost a year. Mahendra Pawar, a member of the Chembur pool, said that members were initially informed that it would remain closed for only two days from April 15 for maintenance work. "We were told that the leakages would be repaired but no work has begun," he said. He also said that he had paid an annual fee of Rs.11,700 for his daughter and himself. The BMC has given members the option of using its Dadar and Vikhroli pools. Pawar said the Dadar facility was too far away while, according to him, users were not permitted at the BMC's Vikhroli swimming pool. "The Chembur pool is convenient for Ghatkopar, Chembur, Chheda Nagar and Chunabhatti residents," he said. Responding to the criticism, Ajit Kumar Ambi, deputy municipal commissioner in charge of gardens and swimming pools, said the issue was "technically complex". "The pool was constructed in 2018 but sprang leaks within eight years," he said. "The repair of the leakages is complicated from the technical point of view. To detect them is difficult, as the entire network is beneath the swimming pool. There is no specific method to complete repairs in one week. We have been working for one month-a contractor has already been appointed and three inspection visits have been conducted so far." Ambi said the official water cut had made things worse. "The demand for water in this pool is 170 MLD and the supply is 240 MLD," he said. "But due to the massive leakage, the water level was going down and we were unable to maintain that level with borewell water. The latter is also unhygienic so we stopped it. We have given members the option of using the Dadar and Vikhroli BMC pools." The deputy municipal commissioner said even the process of identifying the leakages required large quantities of tanker water. "To detect the leakage too requires four tankers but the BMC's hydraulic department could provide one tanker due to water shortage," he said....