Srinagar/ Nov, 4 : Former Union Minister Prof Saif Ud Din Soz on Thursday said that Kashmir houseboat industry is in bad shape and sought intervention of Lt Governor Manoj Sinha for sanction to an economic and financial package for the house boat industry in Kashmir.
In a statement issued on Thursday Soz said “I feel extremely sad that Kashmir’s Traditional Houseboat Industry is facing extremely bad conditions”, adding therein that “the houseboat owners have got reduced to very bad economic conditions due to falling numbers of Domestic and Foreign Tourists and Pandemic has further deepened their misery”.
Stating that he has approached the J&K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha through a letter and requested him to please take notice of this ‘now-dilapidated’ industry, Soz said ” I have urged the Lt. Governor to sanction a package for this industry with a view to provide aid for reconstruction of the houseboats and financial help to houseboat owners”.
Claiming that the house boat industry has suffered heavily due to Covid-19 pandemic and reduction in the number of Domestic and Foreign visitors, Soz said “among other things, I have requested the Lt. Governor to ask his office to invite the Houseboat Owners Association through it’s president G.R. Siah, so that these sufferers will explain their plight to and seek help”. He also expressed the hope that the Lt. Governor would initiate action, in this connection, at the earliest.
