By Rameez Makhdoomi
Srinagar: Kashmiri houseboats are floating houses that are anchored along the banks of some of the most beautiful lakes, such as Dal Lake, Jhelum Lake, and Nagin Lake. These houseboats are known for their unique beauty and architectural style, giving no less comfort than a luxury hotel. They actually represent the heritage of Kashmir. They were introduced by the British here.
Historical records mention that in the late 19th century the boat-dwelling Hanji or fisherman community of Srinagar started building floating homes or houseboats for English visitors and residents, who were not allowed to own land in Kashmir.
Currently, in Kashmir there are more than 900 houseboats with more than 600 in Dal Lake, rest in Nigeen Lake and Jehlum River. The number has greatly reduced as many of them wore down due to age in recent decades. Many were also gutted in fire. For long, houseboats catching fire has been a problem. Last month a massive fire broke out in which two houseboats, namely New Zealand belonging to Badiyari family and Apollo Eleven belonging to Late Gh Qadir Kahar, got damaged.
Spokesperson of Kashmir Houseboat Owners Association, Yakoob Dunno told Global Bihari that the loss was approximately Rs. 2.5 crore per houseboat.
Houseboats have been a major tourist attraction and is considered a powerhouse of reviving tourism industry of Kashmir. However, curiously the permission for constructing new houseboats in Kashmir has not been given for decades because of environmental considerations. Many of these houseboats discharge human excreta in the lake itself.
Dunno stressed the need to provide modern sanitation system on houseboats. “Houseboats are symbol of Kashmir tourism. We too want to cooperate with authorities on providing modern sanitation system,” he said, and asked, “When our country can raise flag on moon why can’t our scientists and engineers provide modern and sophisticated toilet system to houseboats in Kashmir.”
Incidentally, talks of shifting about 600 houseboats from Dal lake has been in the air since 2009. The proposal is to shift these houseboats to Doldum area which is inside the Nishat Side of the Dal Lake. “There are about 600 Houseboats they plan to shift from Dal Lake. There are threats to houseboats if they shift to Doldum area as that is prone to winds,” Dunno said. Besides, he pointed out that the Doldum are is a pristine area of Dal Lake which needs to be preserved. “We are for every step that preserves Dal Lake as without Dal there would be no houseboats. Everything though should be done in a planned way,” he said.
Dunno sounded quite skeptical about the talks of shifting houseboats or the houseboat policy of 2020. “The Houseboat industry is one of the backbones of Kashmir tourism sector. It deserves laurels for its role in boosting tourism in Kashmir and not step motherly treatment,” he said.
