Panel framed for regulating compliance of House Boats

WAJAHAT SHABIR
SRINAGAR: A six-member advisory cum regulatory committee has been constituted by the Jammu and Kashmir government to regulate House Boats compliance.
The committee will perform several functions, including scrutinizing all documents of the houseboat(s) for issuances/ renewal of registrations. (Manoj Kumar Dwivedi), Principal Secretary to the Government has issued an order in this regard.
“Sanction is hereby accorded to constitution of Advisory cum Regulatory Committee, with the following composition, for regulating and ensuring compliance with laid down norms and procedures adopted by the House Boats,” it reads.
As per the order, Director, Tourism Kashmir, will be the Chairman of the committee, and Vice-Chairman, Lake Conservation and Management Authority, will be the Co-chairman. The members of the committee include Deputy Director Tourism (Registration), Secretary, LCMA, Assistant Director, F&ES, Srinagar, and two members of Houseboat owners Association, each nominated by the Chairman KHBOA.
Further, as per the order, the Advisory cum Regulatory Committee will identify areas of concern regarding the preservation of the lake body with regard to the houseboats, point out measures to be taken for increasing the tourist influx to the lakein general and houseboats in particular.
Also the committee will review measures taken for proper and scientific waste disposal from the House boats and any other areas of concern.
Further the committee shall also be responsible for scrutinizing all documents of houseboat(s) for issuance/ renewal of registrations and ensuring adherence of the fire safety related guidelines by the houseboat owner(s).
The committee shall ensure functional bio-digester or similar Sewage Treatment system for Solid/Liquid Waste is installed and making surprise inspections of houseboats to check overcharging by the Houseboats and facilities as per entitlement are made available to them.