03 February,2026 07:04 AM IST | Mumbai | Madhulika Ram Kavattur
Advocate Priti Chavan flies a kite at Oval Maidan. FILE PIC/ATUL KAMBLE
Advocate Priti Chavan, a national-level swimmer, has alleged that she has not received any money from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) despite the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission directing the civic body to pay the athlete Rs 22,000, as she had been denied concessional fees for using the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Olympic Swimming Pool in Dadar, last year.
"After the district court ruled in my favour, the BMC appealed the decision at the state consumer court. Though this was done after the 30-day appeal period, the state court upheld the decision of the district court and ordered the civic body to pay me the due amount," she said.
As reported by mid-day, Chavan has won several medals for her swimming prowess, which warrants a concession in yearly fees at civic facilities, and the district consumer court ordered the BMC to pay her a compensation of Rs 15,000 in deficiency of services at the pool and an additional amount of Rs 7000.
Shreyas Sakpal, who sustained two injuries in past year
However, Chavan alleged that multiple attempts to obtain the dues proved fruitless. "I have approached attendants at the pool multiple times to get my money, but they stated orally that they had paid the money to the court. Yet they did not provide any receipt that I could hand over to the court to get my money. They have not even clarified which court they had submitted the money to."
Talking about the facilities at the civic-run pool, Chavan said, "I assumed the BMC would at least maintain the pool. They were carrying out repairs while the case was ongoing, but no maintenance has been done. We have seen multiple accidents involving the diving board. The pool's showers and taps are also not all working, and only half of them are functional."
Shreyas Sakpal, a 15-year-old national-level athlete who has been swimming and competing for about 11 to 12 years, had two accidents at the pool in the past year. His father, Sachin Sakpal, told this newspaper, "My son has had two mishaps in three months. He fractured his hand in the first incident, which involved the diving board, and his leg got severely scratched in the second one, which prevented him from practising."
Sachin Sakpal claimed that the diving board was old, and after repeated complaints, it had only been repainted, instead of replaced. "Children's feet are being injured as the surface is too coarse," he alleged.
Both Chavan and Sakpal warned that the alleged lack of maintenance could lead to a dangerous accident, which could end careers. mid-day contacted the G North ward's maintenance department with queries, but did not receive a reply before press time.
