A WATER SPORTS CENTRE in TROPICS

Water holds .infinite attractions to mankind. Bodies of water manifesting cross currents, wave action, turbulance, foaming etc. offer ample opportunities for daily exhiliration and recreation for both the young and the old. For people living in the tropics, an expansive sheet of clear water is the most satisfying sight for the eye. It is for these reasons that Tourist Centres and picnic spots generally develop along banks of rivers or near large lakes.The Vernbanad lake with its associated system of rivers, canals, and irrigation channels forms a large labyrinth of water covering over hundreds of square miles. Under a good assessment Vernbanad together with the oozy lands of Kuttanad has to be reckoned as a big geographical belt in south Kerata. The major speciality of the Vernbanad belt is that people live here in a water logged environment, almost for the whole year. Here a child learns swimming sooner than it learns walking. Every young man or woman becomes an adept at swimming or diving, out of necessity. During the day one is either working or wading in neck deep water. Different styles of swimming, crawling or diving in water come to him with facility, as the situation at hand demands. Water sports such as swimming and diving have been popular here from very old times. Bathing ghats and swimming tracts are found all along the rivers and on the flanks of the lakes, everywhere in this land.

The Alleppey Aquatic Association has done a good deal of sustained work for organising swirmning clubs, all over the area. Apart from giving systematic training under the supervision of expert coaches, the association is holding an annual swimming contest in the Punnamada lake. Competitive swimming, as a sport, has already struck roots in Alleppey. Several Swimmers from this place have distinguished themselves in the State level and National competitions.

The Aquatic Association is presently trying to popularise Diving and Waterpolo activities in this area. These sports events have been demonstrated in the Punnamada lake on a few ocassions in the recent past. Young men who got inspiration from the exhibition are now found to practise the Diving act by jumping from coconut trees, leaning over deep water. For further popularisation and development of Swimming, Diving and Waterpolo the facilities of a modern swimming pool area felt need. There are proper locations in the Verndanad lake where the other major aquatic sports like long distance swimming, water-skying, Sort-riding. Yachting and Catamaran racing could be well couducted.The vast sheets of water stretching beyond the horizon in the Kumarakom,Mukkom and Thrinayankulam very often show wave action almost as in a sea. Even white water racing, a sophisticated aquatic sport could be practised in the upper reaches of the Pumba during the swell months.

A unique feature of community life in the Vembanad area is the abundant use of water crafts of various descriptions. Kothumpuval lorn (Pigmi Canoe), Cheruvalloms as well as large tanker like Kettuvalloms ply in the waters here, all through the year. Obviously, these serve for inland transportation of men and materials. As more distance is covered by water than ,by land, in a man's daily rounds, in this part of country, special Deluxe boats for passenger service .are also common, even at present. Apart from all the above types of utility boats,specially designed speed boats are also redundent in the Vernbanad and adjoining places. Palliyodam, Chundan, Churulan,Veppu and Irittukuthi are the major types of race boats used in speed competitions. There are many places in and around Alleppey where annual boat races are arranged with eclat, either as temple service or as amateur competitions. No other sport has the appeal and glamour of the Snake-boat Race of Vernbanad.Aileppey is the hub of competitive boat racing, on account of the annual Nehru Trophy boat race which is acclaimed as the grandest water spectacle in the world.

The construction of the proposed Aqua Complex at Punnamada will be a great step towards developing Alieppey into a major water sports centre in the country. Camping facilities are available to some extent in Alieppey considering the several • modern hotels that have come up in the town during the last few years. Yet, the Tourism Department should come forward in a big way to provide adequate accommodation to visitors by building Cottages in a strategic place near the Punnamada lake. House boats could also be kept in places like Pathira manal for the benefit of tourists.

Perhaps the best use to which clear watersheets could be put is for bathing and swimming. Except during the monsoon mix-up, water is clear in the lakes snd rivers of Alleppey. Bathing ghats could be laid out and maintained at convenient places in the water front and the places should be made accessible by laying motorable roads. Arrangements should .also be made to ferry visitors to the different sections of the lake and to all important picnic spots in the area. By providing facilities for recreational activities like Swimming, Diving, Canoeing, Fishing, Angling etc. sports lovers could be drawn in large numbers to the lake side of Alleppey. A water sports centre in the Tropics will provide perrenial attraction to visiting tourists.