Winners of the traditional boat race at Dumboor Lake have still not received their promised cash prizes, even after four months. The delay triggered a strong protest on Saturday. Angry fishermen from the Dumboor reservoir locked the main gate of the Gandacherra–Narayanpur Fisheries Department office. They accused officials of delaying the process on purpose.
The boat race took place on 14 August at Narikelkunja as part of the Independence Day celebrations. The Fisheries Department’s ADC (Administration) organized the event. Thousands of people, including local leaders and officials, attended the competition.
From the stage, officials announced prize money of Rs 1,00,000 for the first team, Rs 70,000 for the second team and Rs 50,000 for the third team. The winners also expected certificates. However, they say they have not received anything till now.
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Repeated Delays Frustrate Winners
The fishermen claimed that department officials kept assuring them that the money would be released soon. But every promise ended in another delay. According to the protestors, officials used the same excuse for almost four and a half months.
Fishermen also accused the Gandacherra Fisheries Office of long-standing corruption. They pointed to irregular boat distribution, manipulation in fish-feed allotments and bribery during license approvals. They believe the delay in prize money reflects these deeper issues.
Conflicting Statements from Officials
The protestors expressed anger at Officer Madan Tripura. They said he kept giving different explanations. At one point, he claimed the department had not sanctioned the funds. Later, he promised that the money would be distributed by 10 December. These shifting statements increased the fishermen’s mistrust.
On Saturday, the fishermen locked the office gate for several hours. The protest stopped all work inside. The situation remained peaceful but tense.
Department Promises Quick Action
Fisheries Department staff finally spoke with the protestors and promised quick action. After receiving the assurance, the fishermen unlocked the gate. However, they warned that they would start a stronger agitation if the department failed to distribute the prize money soon.
The incident highlighted the ongoing struggles of the Dumboor fishing community. Many fishermen depend on events like the boat race for motivation and financial support. They said the delay has affected their livelihood and hurt their trust in the department.
The fishermen now wait for the department to deliver on its promise. The coming days will show whether the issue ends peacefully or leads to another protest.
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