Alappuzha: While preparations are on in full swing for this year’s Nehru Trophy Boat Race, the clamour for getting Ambedkar Chundan once more into the waters is becoming strong.
Named after B.R. Ambedkar, the snake boat’s maiden outing was at the 1994 edition of the Nehru Trophy race. It continued winning several prizes in races held in Thrissur, Karuvattta, Pulinkunnu and Kandassamkadavu.
However, with Government grants drying up, financial liability started taking its toll of the iconic chundan. Raghu Kuppapuram, Ambedkar Boat Club president, who has been fighting for the chundan’s comeback, said since 1996 the club had stopped getting any sort of financial assistance from the Government.
“The bonus which was given to the club was insufficient to meet all expenses including maintenance of the boat and travel and food expenses of the rowers.
In 2008, the Government sanctioned Rs 6 lakh for rebuilding the boat after the club submitted a proposal for Rs 8 lakh. As the sanctioned funds turned out to be insufficient, the club approached the Government again. Following this, an additional Rs 3.5lakh was assured by the authorities. On the basis of the assurance, the snake boat was dismantled. But the ensured funds were yet to be released, he said.
Vinod Karichal, administrator of a Facebook page christened as ‘Boat Races Kerala’, and an active campaigner for the snake boat’s return says the boat can carry over110 rowers.
“The old snake boat in Pulinkunnu is waiting for help and if the authorities show some will, the chundan can slide back into the waters”, he said.
