Jawahar Thayankari lifts Nehru trophy

ALAPPUZHA: Jawahar Thayankari rowed by Vembanad Boat Club, Kumarakom,  lifted the  Nehru Trophy at the finals of the boat race at the Punnamada  lake  witnessed by a galaxy of dignitaries and thousands of tourists and other spectators on Saturday.

Mahadevikad Kattil Thekkethu of Karthikapally, Mahadevikad Boat Club, came second. Jawahar Thayankari, which finished in 4.36 minutes, registered its fourth victory.  Sree Ganesan of Town Boat Club, Alappuzha, came  third and St Pious X of  Mankombu Pious X Boat Club was  fourth.

Vembanad Boat club captain Jameskutty Jacob, who  received the trophy, said  they had a one-month  hard training that helped them win the trophy.

In  Veppu ‘B’ grade finals.  Abraham Munnu Thaikal of the St John’s Boat Club, Mankombu, finished first and Chiramel Thottukadavan of Ponga  Sree Bhadhra boat club  second.  Munnuthaikkal of Kuttanad Boat Club, Mampuzhakari, won first in Iruttukuthy ‘A’ category.

Thuruthithara of  Bharath Math Kaikavedhi, Mankombu finished second. Earlier, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari who inaugurated the event said that the centre was interested in constructing a new national highway from Alappuzha to Kodaikanal.

“If the Kerala government can  acquire  enough land, I would be  happy to implement the project,”  he said.    

The centre also planned to set up   waterways, he said. The Inland Water Ways Department had developed five waterways in the country and the Kodungallur- Kottappuram waterway was  almost complete.

Chief guest Le Yucheng,   Chinese Ambassador to India,  said that Kerala had a lot of tourism potential and China was willing to cooperate in this respect.  

Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Anoop Jacob presided. K.C. Venugopal MP, Kodikunnil Suresh MP, MLAs Thomas Issac, A.M. Aarif, C.K. Sadasivan and Thomas Chandy and chief secretary  Jiji Thomson were also present.