The Kumarakom Town Boat Club (KTBC), winner of the 58th Nehru Trophy Boat Race held here on August 14, has said that it has not yet received the declared cash prize of Rs.2 lakh.
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, KTBC president V.S. Sugesh and secretary K.N. Prasad, along with other members, said though they had approached the organisers of the event several times, they were not yet paid the cash prize. They were reportedly asked to wait.
The club, which has won the trophy on six occasions, said it was in a debt trap after spending about Rs.15 lakh to Rs.20 lakh on preparations for the event.
Even the fixed bonus of Rs.1.70 lakh, which is given to all participating snake boats, was not paid in full with only Rs.1.20 lakh paid so far. The answer from the organisers on when they would receive the payment was that they would have to wait till the Nehru Trophy Boat Race Society, which conducts the race, got enough money, they said.
