ALAPPUZHA: When the state government is all set to kick off the Nehru Trophy Boat Race (NTBR), the owners of smaller boats have threatened that they would boycott the much-awaited event.It was announced by the owners after the NTBR Society, the organisers of this globally renounced regatta, allegedly refused to accept their demands.It was the Kerala Race Boat Owners Association in Alappuzha , which came against the NTBRS on Friday.As per the association, as many as 47 boats take part in smaller boats categories every year in NTBR as per the owners and their boats race is a major attraction of the NTBR.The association office-bearers on Friday conducted a press conference and announced that they would boycott the August 11 event as the NTBRS has refused to accept their demands.Association secretary Punnoose Joseph said they had urged the NTBRS not to conduct the race of the smaller boats before noon on the NTBR day."The race of the smaller boats should be conducted in the afternoon. The race of the snake boats will be held in the afternoon. So there will not be any viewers for watching the race of smaller boats if it is held before noon. We have also put forwarded demands like giving the pending maintenance grant from tourism department and NTBRS to the smaller boats from 2015 and augmentation of bonus and cash prize amount for the smaller boats. However, none of our demands are met till now. So we have decided to boycott the 2018 edition of NTBR," Joseph said.Alappuzha sub -collector Krishna Teja said that the executive committee meet of the NTBRS to be held in the last week of this month would discuss the demands of the association and their genuine demands will be accepted.

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