Vijayawada: Nagayalanka boat festival started with good response on Saturday. As many as 36 teams will participate in three categories and each team has nine persons. The first category is Kola Padaalu, second is Meddudu Padavalu and the third is Drogan Padavalu. Navalanka of luxury huts, a new concept of Tourism has also started. Deputy Speaker Mandali Buddha Prasad and minister for youth services and sports Kollu Ravindra started the traditional boat race at Sri Rama Padashketram Pushkara Ghat, Nagayalanka on Saturday. Mr Ravindra also laid the foundation stone of the state water sports academy, which is going to be constructed with Rs 3 crore. Mr Ravindra said, “We have a long coast. The government has given permission to start water sports at Ibrahimpatnam, Nagayalanka and Tadipudi.”
