ALAPPUZHA: For the smooth conduct of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race (NTBR) this year, the government will bear the added financial liability of the prestigious regatta to be held at Puunamada Lake here next month, said Finance Minister Dr T.M. Thomas Isaac. He was speaking at the NTBR Society executive meeting regarding the preparation of boat race the other day.
"If a sponsor is unavailable, the liability of Rs50lakh will be taken up by the government. The bonus amount for snake boats would be brought up to the 2013 level", he added. The bonus was cut short by the NTBR society, which conducts the race, because it got no sponsors in 2014 and 15. As result of the minister's statement, the first eight snake boats are expected to get Rs1lakh each as bonus.
Meanwhile, the recently formed sub-committee to restructure the NTBR has failed to come to a consensus. Many members in the committee advocated for 16 boats but a section demanded opportunities to the NTBR for newly-constructed snake boats. One opinion that cropped up in the committee was to shrink the length of the track to 1000metre from 1250.
