Announce package for houseboat industry: Soz to LG

Srinagar: Former Union Minister Prof Saifuddin Soz on Thursday urged Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to announce a financial package for the houseboat industry, who has tremendously suffered due to the fall in tourist arrival in Kashmir valley and COVID-19 Pandemic.

“I feel extremely sad that Kashmir’s Traditional Houseboat Industry is facing bad conditions, the houseboat owners have got reduced to very bad economic conditions due to falling numbers of Domestic and Foreign Tourists with the Pandemic has further deepened their misery,” Soz said in a statement.

“I have approached the J&K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha through a letter today, requesting him to please take notice of this ‘now-dilapidated’ industry,” reads the statement.

Soz urged the Lt Governor Sinha to take note of this ‘now-dilapidated’ industry and announce a package for them.

“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,” Soz said.

“The industry has suffered heavily due to Covid-19 pandemic and reduction in the number of Domestic and Foreign visitors visiting Kashmir valley for sojourn”, Soz added.

He said he had requested Lt. Governor to invite the Houseboat Owners Association to know the plight of people directly or indirectly involved in this tourist sector.

I also expressed my hope that the Lt. Governor would initiate action, in this connection, at the earliest,” Soz added.

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