LUCKNOW, June 17 -- An Olympic-sized swimming pool at the KD Singh Babu Stadium in Lucknow remains unfit for hosting national or international events despite an expenditure of over Rs 22 crore. Multiple infrastructural issues, including continuous leakage, faulty equipment, and safety hazards, continue to plague the facility years after it underwent major renovations. Installed with an all-weather system between March 2008 and August 2011 for Rs 3.45 crore, the mechanism never functioned and has now been declared outdated. The machinery meant for the system lies unused and reportedly discarded within the premises. An additional Rs 18.81 crore was later spent on the pool's reconstruction, yet critical flaws persist. The pool suffers from recurring leakage despite sealing attempts using membrane technology (a kind of wall covering). Lanes lose their string tension under pressure, and starting blocks are reportedly unsafe due to loose fittings. The diving board lift remains ill-fitted, and the boards themselves are described as a safety risk. Poorly designed changing rooms and bathrooms add to the list of concerns, raising health risks for swimmers. "Many discrepancies remain in its reconstruction, and we aren't going to take over the pool unless everything is completed as per norms," Animesh Saxena, regional sports officer, said. He added that the construction agency, Rajkiya Nirman Nigam (RNN), has been asked to complete the remaining work. On ground inspection by Hindustan Times revealed makeshift measures to hide the leakage, a cloth covers the leak point, and a pipe redirects leaking water to a manhole near the gymnasium. The situation has reportedly been flagged to both the chief minister's office and state sports minister Girish Yadav. Though a coach has been assigned to monitor the water level, no substantial corrective action has followed. Due to wall tiling work and a thick cement-sand plaster, the 50-metre long pool has also shrunk by a few centimetres, making it non-compliant with national competition standards. Uttar Pradesh Swimming Association director Ravin Kapoor said no major event has been hosted at the pool since the 1984 national championship. "It is unfit for major events, and even in state meets, swimmers face difficulties due to fluctuating water levels," he noted. Kapoor added that the association has consistently reported the problems, but the responsibility for corrective action lies with the authorities. Swimmers, too, are struggling with the current conditions. "It is almost boiling inside the pool area due to the tin shade cover. We can not swim for more than an hour," swimmer Rachit said. A coach, requesting anonymity, noted that the drainage system is outdated and in parts broken, leading to persistent leakage. "One batch of swimmers at the hostel completed their entire four-year training without access to water, as the pool remained non-operational for most of the time, including the COVID-19 lockdown period," he added. Soham, a junior engineer with RNN, maintained that the agency has made repeated attempts to fix the problems. "It is an age-old pool, and we have done our best during the reconstruction. If new issues come to our notice, we will address them," he said....