Punnami Ghat to become hub of water sports

Vijayawada: Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Kollu Ravindra inaugurated the water sports demo at the Punnami Ghat on Monday.

Highlights:

• Four academies to come up in State to promote water sports
• Students in the age group of 12 to 18 years will be admitted to the academies

The Andhra Pradesh government is setting up four water sports academies in the State to promote tourism and encourage water sports.

Punnami Ghat is one of the four centres in the State. Talking to media persons after the inauguration, Kollu Ravindra said rowing, canoeing, sailing and kayaking water sports will be developed at Punnami Ghat and Nagayalanka of Krishna district, Vizianagaram district and Jangareddygudem of West Godavari district.

He said students in the age group of 12 to 18 years will be admitted into the water academies to encourage water sports in the State.

Giving details of academies he said free education, nutritious diet, kits and sports material will be given to the selected players. He said the State government has released Rs 3 crore for the water academies for the financial year 2016-17.
Sportsmen have displayed canoeing, sailing, kayaking and rowing skills on the occasion.

Punnami Ghat which was developed last year for Krishna Pushkaralu is gradually turning into a hub of tourism and recreation. With the setting up of water academy, the ghat will get more prominence in the coming years.

So far, AP Tourism boats are already attracting a large number of tourists. Air show and Navy show conducted last year evoked huge response at Punnami Ghat. Now, the water academy will be a feather in the cap of Punnami Ghat.