Nehru Trophy boat race on Aug 22

Kottayam: The 72nd Nehru Trophy Boat Race (NTBR) will be held in Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha on Aug 22. The decision was taken at a meeting held in the collectorate conference hall in the presence of MPs KC Venugopal and Kodikunnil Suresh on Monday.

The meeting was chaired by NTBR society chairman and district collector Shaji V Nair.Venugopal said that the earlier decision of NTBR society to hold the festival on Aug 22 was not the right step. Nehru Trophy boat race has an emotional bond with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, and that it is most appropriate to hold the event on the second Saturday of Aug, he said.Venugopal noted that since the date was announced early and boat committees and clubs have already begun preparations, the race is being kept on Aug 22 this time to avoid practical difficulties.Suresh said the NTBR sand govt officials should work together wholeheartedly to make Alappuzha’s heritage water carnival a grand success this year.The collector has been tasked with identifying chief guests for the inauguration ceremony. The meeting decided to keep entry ticket rates unchanged and to invite tenders for sponsorships. Conveners of the respective committees have been assigned to form sub-committees