By IANS
Alappuzha (Kerala) : The 55th Nehru Boat Race here Aug 11 may be the last one as the government has acquired six acres of land near the picturesque waterfront of the Punnamada Kayal river for an oil cargo terminal.
Alappuzha legislator and former state tourism minister K.C. Venugopal believes that the construction of the oil cargo terminal would sound the death knell for tourism in the district.
"The place which the ministry has identified is a prime area which is also the finishing point of the prestigious Nehru Boat Race. The terminal could bring tourism activities to a stop on account of possible oil pollution," Venugopal told IANS.
The Nehru Boat Race is associated with former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru's visit to the state in 1952 when a pageantry of snake-shaped boats accompanied him on his trip from Kottayam to Alappuzha.
The first race was an impromptu one conducted in honour of India's first prime minister.
Nehru, thrilled by the performance of the oarsmen, jumped into a boat, forgetting all security arrangements. The boat proceeded to the jetty with him on board.
On returning to New Delhi, Nehru donated a silver trophy, a replica of a snake boat placed on a wooden abacus, with an inscription and his signature. This trophy is given to the winner in the snake boat category every year.
Alex George, the former president of the Houseboat Owners Association here, said the construction of the oil cargo terminal would take away the sheen from Alappzuha.
Thousands of tourists arrive every year to travel in nearly 400 houseboats.
Venugopal said that the only way out is one last attempt to convince the central government about the damage that the oil cargo terminal would do to Alappuzha as a tourist destination.
"We are working out with all concerned to first meet the officials. If that does not work, we would be forced to launch protests," he said.
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