Srinagar: The Kashmiri houseboats were decades ago the main attraction for tourists but due to the stringent government policies, the owners are now offering to surrender their properties.
For decades, houseboats have adorned the Dal lake and are a source of livelihood to thousands of its dwellers who rely on tourism.
Stringent government policies coupled with the fragile situation in Kashmir and government shutdown for five months after the abrogation of Article 370 and two COVID-19 lockdowns, the tourist flow to Kashmir has declined which has put owners into deep distress.
Abdul Rashid, General Secretary of Kashmir Houseboat Owners Association, told ETV Bharat that the stringent policies of the government have compelled them to surrender their property to the government.
"We have informed the administration that we are ready to surrender our houseboats. Tourist flow to Kashmir has been on the decline; the new houseboat policy has now come up as a double-edged sword for our business," he said.
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As per the houseboat policy, no new houseboats can be constructed in the lake and the new policy has made even repairing and renovation of old houseboats stringent.
In 1991, the then state government imposed a ban on the construction of new houseboats in Dal Lake to “save the world famous water body from overcrowding and pollution”.
In 2020, the Administrative Council under the chairmanship of former Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu formulated a policy listing various guidelines for registration, renewal and operation of houseboats in the Dal and Nigeen lakes.
This policy was opposed by the owners who cited that it was an attack on their livelihood and the Valley's heritage.
Houseboats have been one of the major attractions for foreign tourists in Kashmir and were the first resting place for any visitor. The floating heritage offered a home-stay for tourists.
As per the houseboat owners, Dal lake and its adjoining Nigeen lake were a major attraction for foreign tourists. Dal and Nigeen lakes housed over 1,200 boats but their number has now declined to 900.
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"Due to volatile situation, many countries have issued advisories to their citizens about visiting Kashmir. This has led a severe blow to foreign tourist footfall which has directly hit our livelihood," said Abdul Majeed, a houseboat owner.
As per the new policy, the government framed the rehabilitation of the houseboats and Dal dwellers and planned to shift them out of the lake to save its ecology.
"We have agreed with the rehabilitation policy, but the government is not even implementing it," Majeed said.
