Govt may conduct CBL this season: Riyas

Kottayam: The govt is seriously examining the possibility of conducting the Champions Boat League (CBL) this season, said tourism minister P A Mohammed Riyas on Friday. He was speaking at the executive committee meeting of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race Society held in Alappuzha. It was decided earlier, to cancel this year's CBL due to the Wayanad tragedy.
Riyas said a decision will be taken after discussions with ministers from the district and the CBL Board. He also said time and elaborate preparation are needed to conduct the CBL and that events like boat races that attract tourists, are emotionally attached to the state. The minister assured all support for such events from the tourism department.
He added that the NTBR, which was also postponed due to the Wayanad tragedy, will now be held in a much more elegant way with the intervention of the govt. All the arrangements for this are being made and the tourism department will provide Rs one crore for the race, he said. District collector Alex Varghese presided.
NTBR will be held on September 28 in Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the 70th edition of the race.
Boat owners reaction:
This news has renewed the hopes of boat clubs and boat race lovers, as the indefinite delay in beginning the tournament will put the already cash-strapped clubs into deep misery.
S M Iqbal, secretary of Boat Clubs Association, said the govt should declare the dates of the CBL at the earliest. "If the start is delayed indefinitely, the clubs will be in deep trouble. It would be ideal if the CBL begins right after the NTBR. The momentum of the NTBR will be carried on to the CBL or else we will have to organise the team again and start trials again, which will require funds," he said. He also hoped that the executive committee and the board of the CBL will meet before the NTBR.
R K Kurup, president, Kerala Snake Boats and Rowers Association, said it is almost certain that the CBL will be held this season. "The wait is for an official declaration and for the criterion for the teams to take part in the league," he said.
"The director board and the CBL's technical committee will meet soon to plan how to conduct the League effectively this season," he said. He also added that the number of races will be reduced from the existing 12 to eight or nine. "The venue and the dates will be fixed at the meeting," he said.
Teams participating in CBL will get a bonus of Rs 4 lakh while a boat owner gets Rs 1 lakh for a race, which has been a relief for the teams and boat owners.
Till last year, the top nine teams from the previous NTBR were eligible to take part in the league. For this year, there is a proposal for selecting the top nine teams of the current NTBR for the CBL. "This year teams may be increased to the top 12," he added.