THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After months of deliberations, the Kerala Tourism Department has finalised plans to hold the Kerala Boat Race League (KBRL), by bringing the major snake boat races in the state - from the Nehru Trophy boat race at Punnamada lake to President’s Trophy Boat Race in Kollam - under a single platform.
The franchise based KBRL will be a two-month-long regatta with a series of league rounds to decide the finalists of the event. It will be held from 11 August to 1 November, it was decided at a meeting convened by state tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran.
The league will have 75 per cent local participation mandatory.
Surendran was quoted by Deccan Chronicle as having said that the main boat race venues from five districts - Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, and Thrissur - will be included in the league rounds of the KBRL.
The qualifying round for the league will be the Nehru Trophy Boat Race which begins on 11 August 11, followed by the league rounds. The final of the league will be the famed President’s Trophy Boat Race in Kollam on 1 November.
Out of the 20 teams contesting in the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, nine top teams will be selected for the league rounds to be held in Punnamada, Pulinkunnu, Kainakari, Karuvatta, Mavelikkara, Kayamkulam, Piravom, Poothotta, Kottappuram, Thazathangadi, Kallada and Kollam boat races.
Each team that qualifies for the league round will be given a sum of Rs 400,000 as bonus for each venue. The top three performers in each league will be given prize money ranging from Rs 100,000 to Rs 500,000. The state government is planning to provide cash prize ranging from Rs 600,000 to Rs 1 million for the winners in the final to be held in Kollam on November 1, Deccan Chronicle quotes the the minister as further stating.
It is expected the event would cost around Rs 150 million and the state government has earmarked a fund of Rs 100 million for the event. The balance amount will be collected through sponsorship, the minister said.
The event will be a two-month-long visual treat for tourists who visit the state to witness the regatta. The Tourism Department will hold promotional campaigns on international platforms to attract more tourists, he added.
Though the main snake boat races will be brought under the league, the events organised as part of the traditional ceremonies will be spared from the league.
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