Another Houseboat in the name and stlye Air Queen belonging to Imtiyaz Punjabi , Dal lake sunk this early morning at 4 AM. This is a 3rd Houseboat which sunk within a month.
Tourism in JK is considered as a “Backbone” and since 5th August 2019 after Abrogation of Articke 370 and now Covid 19 JK Tourism has hit hard in valley and the Houseboat Industry is on the edge of destruction. The Houseboat is the only sourse of livelihood of Houseboat owners and since last 450 days ( More than 1 year) no tourist have visited or stayed in the houseboats which has increased anxieties among the owners.
Secondly, every houseboat need CAULKING every year which makes a houseboat watertight by stopping up any gaps in its Hull.
Since one year there is no tourist business so the houseboat owners can not afford Rs. 50,000 to 1 Lakh for Caulking and this is the only reason why day after day houseboats are sinking in water.
Houseboat is icon of Jammu and Kashmir and if Government will not come forward to save this Hirtage of Kashmir that day is not far when there will be no houseboats in valley and new generation will come to know about Houseboat from Pictures only.
Muhammad Yakub Dunoo
Spokesperson
Kashmir Houseboat Owners Association