By Nida Sadiq
Srinagar- On a quiet evening along the Jhelum River, Ghulam Qadir sits by the water’s edge, staring at the place where his home once floated. The river, once a source of life and livelihood, now carries his deepest sorrow. His houseboat—a piece of his family’s history—was reduced to wreckage by a storm in May 2023. Years of restrictions on renovations had left it in ruins. When the government finally lifted the ban, it was too late. Now, they live in a makeshift tent by the riverbank.
“At night, dogs and mice enter our tent. The cold is unbearable. Sometimes, we sleep hungry,” he says. “Does no one see our suffering? Are we not humans?”
Their story is not unique. It’s the shared plight of 86 families clinging to a precarious existence, their floating homes threatened by the relentless currents of change on the Jhelum River.
A Silent Disappearance
For centuries, houseboats have been more than just floating homes in Srinagar—they have been cultural landmarks, symbols of Kashmir’s heritage. But today, they are disappearing, taking with them the hopes and histories of those who call them home.
The Jhelum alone had over 800 houseboats, each intricately designed, offering a glimpse into the region’s history and culture. The Hanji community, which has lived on water for generations, depended entirely on these floating homes for their livelihood.
Today, fewer than 800 houseboats remain across all of Kashmir, a stark decline from their former glory. On the Jhelum, the situation is even more dire, with only 61 still afloat, many in a dilapidated state.
The decline began in 1988 with a government ban on new houseboat construction, citing environmental concerns. This was followed by an even more devastating blow: a restriction on renovations. Over time, denied essential repairs, the structures weakened and decayed. By the time the government finally reversed its policy, the damage was often irreversible. Now, the cost of repairing a houseboat ranges from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh, a sum far beyond the reach of most owners.
Haleema, a single mother of three, embodies this desperate struggle. Perched on the edge of her crumbling houseboat, she stares into the murky water below. “I am not afraid to die,” she whispers, her voice barely audible. “But what about my children? Where will they go?”
She once eked out a living renting rooms to tourists. Now, no one ventures near. With each passing day, as the wood groans louder, Haleems’s fear deepens.
“My houseboat is falling apart,” she laments. “First, they wouldn’t let us repair it. Now they say we can, but with what money? Tourists don’t stay in sinking homes.”
A Struggle for Recognition and Rehabilitation
Ghulam Qadir’s routine is a wearying one. He walks from one government office to another, a worn file clutched in his hand. His shoulders slump, his feet drag, but he can’t afford to stop. For months, he’s been pleading for help – rehabilitation and compensation – but the doors keep shutting on him. Back home, his teenage son, Mohammad Anees, has given up on college. He spends his days near Srinagar’s Tourist Reception Center, trying to find tourists and earn a few rupees by guiding them. “My father runs from office to office, and I run after tourists,” Anees says. “He should be resting, and I should be studying. But we have no choice. Our home is gone.”
“We are not asking for anything unreasonable,” Qadir says. “We just want to survive. But it feels like no one cares if we sink or swim.”
Houseboat owners have spent years demanding rehabilitation, but most of their pleas have gone unheard. The only policy that offered relocation was introduced during Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s government, where some families received three marlas of land. But the majority of affected families were left behind.
In 2023, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced a policy allowing houseboat owners to renovate their homes. However, the reality on the ground remains unchanged. Many owners lack the financial resources, and there has been no concrete financial assistance from the government.
“We have met officials, filed applications, and waited,” says Manzoor Ahmad Pakhtoon, chairman of the Houseboat Owners Association. “But time is running out. If nothing is done soon, these houseboats and the people who depend on them will be gone forever.”
The Looming Threat of Water Transport
As houseboat owners struggle to keep their homes standing, a new fear has emerged.
The government is introducing a water transport system on the Jhelum, a project aimed at easing traffic congestion in Srinagar. But for houseboat owners, this could be the final blow.
“When even small boats pass, our houseboats shake,” says Farooq Ahmad Ghasi, another houseboat owner. “Imagine what will happen when large transport boats start moving through these waters daily.”
He said that the waves from these boats will crash against the already weak structures, causing further damage.
“We barely survived the renovation ban,” Ghasi says. “Now, we fear that the few remaining houseboats will collapse, one by one.”
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