Bhubaneswar, Sept. 21: The abrupt closure of the swimming pool in Kalinga Sports Complex here has drawn criticism from swimmers.

The state sports and youth affairs department today issued a notification regarding the closure of the swimming complex for an indefinite period to facilitate the construction of galleries for the adjacent hockey stadium, which will host the Men's Hockey World Cup in November 2018.

Several swimmers and users of the facility today staged a demonstration at the complex against the decision. 'It is more than certain that the government will take seven to eight months to set up the new pool. It will be a problem for me if I fail to practise for two or three days. The government should have made alternative arrangements for the swimmers,' said Pratyasa Ray, the first swimmer from Odisha to win a gold in any national championship, a feat she had achieved in 2016.

Departmental sources said the swimming complex had been set up in 2006 for nearly Rs 6 crore. The complex includes facilities such as a warm-up pool, a swimming pool for kids, a diving pool and another Olympic-size pool for professional athletes. Besides, there are two gymnasiums in the complex, along with galleries for the audience. The diving pool is yet to be made functional.

While more than 200 swimmers practise in the pool on a daily basis, the number goes up to 700 during the summer.

At least 25 professional swimmers from the government-run Sports Hostel are trying to figure out what the immediate future holds for them in the wake of the pool's closure. The department has employed two coaches and four trainers for the complex.

Earlier, former sports minister Ranendra Pratap Swain had urged the state government to look into the matter and make alternative arrangements for the swimmers during the recently concluded Assembly session.

The decision to construct the gallery for the hockey stadium in the swimming complex area has also irked many department insiders.

'The stadium had also hosted eight-nation Champions Trophy in 2014 and the sports authorities had to invite schoolchildren to fill up the seats. The tournament witnessed few foreign tourists. But, the department has decided to set up another gallery in the swimming complex area with just the expectation of thousands of foreign spectators,' said a department source.

Deputy director of the department Manoj Kumar Padhy said the government would construct a new pool in between the construction of the gallery.

'The city will host the Hockey World Cup and there is not adequate space for expansion of the stadium to increase the seating capacity. So, we don't have any option but to dismantle the pool,' said Padhy.