The number of houseboats operating in the Jhelum river and its connected channels has dropped drastically over the years from over 200 earlier to just around 60–70 at present, raising concerns over the survival of the traditional sector.
Chairman of the Houseboat Owners Association (HBOA), Manzoor Ahmad Pakhtoon said that the decline translates into a loss of more than 130 houseboats over time. This data, he said, excludes Dal Lake and includes Jhelum, Tschooni Koul and areas near Dal Gate.
Providing further details, Pakhtoon said the Tschooni Koul stretch alone once had around 100–150 houseboats, but the number has now come down to barely 40. “Even among these, many are deregistered or non-functional,” he added.
The concerns come after a houseboat partially sank in the Jhelum in Srinagar’s Rajbagh area amid continuous rainfall.
According to officials, the incident occurred between Zero Bridge and Abdullah Bridge after the structure tilted and partially submerged due to conditions in the river. Timely intervention helped stabilise the houseboat using ropes, preventing further damage. No casualties were reported.
Houseboat owners say such incidents reflect the deteriorating condition of many houseboats.
Pakhtoon said multiple factors have contributed to the decline, including structural damage, fire incidents and deregistration under various government policies.
“Many houseboats were damaged over time, some were lost in fire incidents, while others were deregistered after owners surrendered them under different policies,” he said.
He said several owners had surrendered their houseboats with assurances of rehabilitation, including allotment of land or plots. “However, nothing has been provided so far,” he claimed.
Pakhtoon said that over 100 houseboat owners had agreed to relocate ahead of proposed water transport initiatives, and their cases were processed by multiple departments, including the Divisional Commissioner’s office, Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) and Flood & Irrigation Department around the year 2022.
“All formalities were completed and still waiting for allotment of land,” he said.
Apart from declining numbers, he said the sector is grappling with several operational challenges, including a lack of business, absence of a clear policy framework, non-availability of subsidised timber for repairs and hurdles in licensing and renovation permissions.
Similarly, a houseboat owner from Rajbagh said the situation has worsened over the years. “Our houseboats are ageing, repairs are costly, and there is no support. Even small weather changes now pose a risk, as seen in the recent incident. Without help, it is becoming impossible to sustain this livelihood,” he said.
The houseboats have long been part of Kashmir’s cultural and tourism identity, particularly along the Jhelum and its connected waterways. However, shifting policies, environmental concerns and lack of sustained support have led to a steady decline in their numbers outside the Dal Lake.
