Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 13: The houseboat owners today demanded waiver on electricity charges from the Government given the fact that they have not been able to do business since August last year and then subsequently due to COVID-19.
They also demanded financial assistance from the Government to carry out necessary repairs of their houseboats with the onset of the winter season.
“…the houseboat owners keep receiving electricity bills although the houseboats are vacant and no electricity consumed since the advisory. We appeal the LG of the UT to waive off electricity charges,” the owners said.
They also have not been able to make necessary repairs of their units especially bottoms of the houseboats which are of utmost necessity to keep them floating otherwise, “there is every likelihood of its sinking as has happened during recent years.”
Apart from financial assistance, they also demanded that subsidized timber is provided to them by the Forest Department so that they could carry out the necessary repairs of their houseboats.
“We are hopeful of a return of that time as it happened some years ago when a similar situation ended and the woes turned into happiness by not only earning their livelihood but were able to refurbish their houseboats too,” they said.
They said that the houseboats are the only sources of livelihood for its owners but due to the advisory issued in August last year followed by the COVID lockdown the “houseboats remained vacant and since then the houseboat owners are living hand to mouth and the upcoming severity of winter will further devastate them and their families.”
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