Houseboat owners held protest in Srinagar, demands financial help in repairing Houseboats.

SRINAGAR  JULY (PTK)Houseboat owners in summer capital Srinagar on Thursday staged protest in Press enclave Srinagar and demanded financial help in repairing houseboats.

They said that the livelihood of scores of families drawing their sustenance from the houseboat business and demanded financial assistance in this regard

Houseboat owners River Jehleum today took to streets against the government apathy. They alleged that the government is probably trying to end this part of the tourist industry.

“Our houseboats are crumbling, but we are not able to repair them. The registration of many houseboats has been cancelled. We have neither been provided any compensation nor any other help has been extended to us,” said one of the protesting houseboat owners.

The protesters alleged that the government was not allowing them to renovate the houseboats, which were the only source of their earning.

“We went to officials concerned on number of occasions but nothing has been done so far. Why only houseboat owners are being harassed? Our children have been forced to drop out of schools,” said another protester.

“We even briefed the higher officials about our problems, but they said they don’t have money to help us,” he added.

The government laws prohibit repair of houseboats in Kashmir, which the owners alleged was an attempt to phaseout the age-old industry.

“Our houseboats are stuck at a place. It is the responsibility of the government to provide us timber on subsidised rates for carrying out necessary repairs. Our voices are not being heard. The government feels it doesn’t need houseboats anymore,” said one of the houseboat owners.

They demanded higher ups to look into the matter so that we can heave a sigh of relief.(PTK)