Citizens living in and around Balkum, Thane, rejoiced after a swimming pool was inaugurated in February this year. Their joy though was short-lived as the Thane Municipal Corporation shut it in three days citing a technical problem. TMC said the pool will be ready for public use in two weeks, but locals feel the delay was deliberate as politicians want it to be opened close to civic polls, said a report in this paper.

The Balkum Dharmveer Anand Dighe swimming pool was ready after a six-year-long wait. Soon after its inauguration in the last week of February, the TMC said the water quality had deteriorated and that there was a leakage. It was shut for repairs, depriving children of access to the pool during their summer vacation.