Snake-boat races set to turn league sport

Alappuzha: The snake-boat races are all set to take a league format. A panel the Nehru Trophy Boat Race Society (NTBRS) appointed to study its possibility has found it feasible.

C.K. Sadasivan, former Kayamkulam legislator who headed the team, said they would submit a report in this regard at the NTBRS meeting on Thursday.

The traditional watersport will undergo a sea-change in the new format held during the tourism season. Ceremonial processions, spectacular floats and decorated boats will be part of it.

“Challenges include finding sponsors and setting rules by the watercraft's length. We have considered rules of various leagues including Indian Premier League," he told DC.

"The NTBRS will take the final decision at its meeting in the presence of finance minister Dr T.M. Thomas Isaac at the collectorate. The league is expected to cost Rs 5 crore and draw worldwide attention with a bigger scale of five events spanning two months.”

The government mooted the idea in December 2015 expecting to benefit some 2,500 people involved in the unique watersport and to promote it as a tourism product.

Tourism authorities had already held two rounds of discussions with the owners of teams and those associated with races.

Earlier this month, NTBRS decided to put a 25 percent cap on hiring professional rowers from outside this year.

Last year there were 24 snake boats including four in exhibition category at the prestigious Nehru Trophy Boat Race telecast live by the national television.

The government is currently providing a maintenance grant '40,000 for each snake boat.