Shadow Correspondent
SRINAGAR, NOV06:
Commissioner Secretary Tourism, Yasha Mudgal, today chaired a meeting at Civil Secretariat here, to discuss various issues of Houseboat Owners Association.
The meeting was attended by Director Tourism Kashmir, Director Planning Tourism Department, Additional Secretary, Deputy Secretary and representatives of Houseboat Owners.
The Commissioner Secretary said that the department is aware of the concerns of the houseboat owners and steps are afoot to resolve those on priority. She said that the government is committed to promote the interests of all stakeholders and houseboat owners are key stakeholders in the framework. While crediting the success of the tourism to joint initiatives by stakeholders and the department, Mudgal said that constant and structured consultations on issues are the way to work out solutions and enhance the standards of the tourism sector. The session facilitated open dialogue with houseboat representatives calling for framing a comprehensive policy for safeguarding the houseboats and run their business in a sustainable manner under single window system. They also raised issues such as renewal of license, repair/reconstruction of houseboats, rehabilitation of houseboat owners, allotment of timber, counter at airport and railway station.
They demanded grant of trekking permission for the houseboat owners as per past practice, besides projecting need of fire service station at Nigeen Lake, boat yards besides declaration of houseboats as heritage.
Yasha Mudgal assured all support to them in addressing their genuine issues and grievances.
