Alappuzha (Kerala) | Kerala Tourism Minister P C Vishnunadh on Sunday said the state government would increase its annual financial assistance for the Nehru Trophy Boat Race to Rs two crore.
The announcement was made at a meeting of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race (NTBR) Executive Committee attended by the minister here.
Vishnunadh said the annual grant was being enhanced to Rs two crore following a request by Congress MP K C Venugopal.
The minister also said the government would take a favourable decision on increasing the maintenance grant for snake boats after considering the budget provisions.
He said Rs 11 crore had been earmarked this year for the Champions Boat League (CBL) and assured that there would be no difficulty in its functioning.
Vishnunadh said the CBL had been conceived on the lines of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and, if implemented in the manner envisaged, would eventually become financially self-sustaining.
However, he said the league would continue in its present format this year.
Venugopal said the prize money and bonus for the Nehru Trophy Boat Race would be revised upwards.
He said the first prize for the winning snake boat would be increased to Rs 25 lakh, the second prize to Rs 20 lakh, the third prize to Rs 15 lakh and the fourth prize to Rs 10 lakh.
He also said the government should take administrative steps to enhance the maintenance grant for snake boats and urged the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) to extend adequate support as the boat race is held around the Onam season.
The minister assured him that financial assistance to the Alappuzha DTPC would not be reduced and said the allocation for districts had been rationalised.
Venugopal said the bonus for participants would also be increased to 25 per cent.
District Collector Shaji V Nair chaired the meeting. MPs K C Venugopal and Kodikunnil Suresh, MLA A D Thomas, Alappuzha Municipal Chairperson Molly Jacob, senior Tourism Department officials and representatives of various committees attended the meeting.
NTBR is an annual event held on Punnamada Lake, where traditional boats such as snake boats are featured.
The event attracts tourists from across the globe and from various parts of the country.
This year, the event will be held on August 22.
