J&K to provide Subsidised Timber to Houseboat, Shikara Owners

FDT Bureau

Reports suggest, the Jammu and Kashmir administration will be providing subsidised timber for repairs and maintenance of houseboats and taxi shikaras. The decision has come after a meeting of the administrative council where the council approved the proposal of the Tourism Department. According to the Forest Department, timber will be provided for minor or periodical repairs of registered houseboats on a 50 percent concessional rate up to a maximum of 70 percent requirement or 30 cubic feet, whichever is less; and for reconstruction and major repairs of houseboats, the timber will be provided on a one-time basis, on 50 percent concessional rate up to a maximum of 70 percent of the requirement or 80 cubic feet, whichever is less. However, in the case of registered taxi shikaras, timber will be provided for periodical repairs/ maintenance on 50 percent concessional rates to a maximum of 70 percent of the requirement or 15 cubic feet, whichever is less, once in five years.