Muhammad Yakub Dunoo, Spokesperson, Kashmir Houseboat owners Association

 Houseboats have kept flame of Kashmir tourism alive :Muhammad Yakub Dunoo, Spokesperson, Kashmir Houseboat owners Association



The eminent face of Kashmir Houseboat industry Muhammad Yakub Dunoo, Spokesperson, Kashmir Houseboat owners Association talks to Mirror of Kashmir Senior Correspondent Rameez Makhdoomi in an exclusive interview.

Your take on new House boat policy 2020 after studying it ?
Actually there were few pre condition in the Houseboat policy 2020 as one had to get  NOC from PDD, Pollution Control Board, Fire Department etc  as these were not acceptable to us and we told this categorically to Department of tourism .  Then it was send back  to Secretariat for reforming it and esteemed LG brought reformed policy recently.

Is this reformed Houseboat policy acceptable to you ?
Well there are  many good things in our favour now but still few other things are unfavorable to us which would be taken up duly with the concerned authorities .
What is your take on houseboat shifting discourse?
The talk of shifting Houseboats from Dallake is going on since 2009 year . The proposal is 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 Houseboat shifts to Doldum area as that is prone to winds and is 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 planned way. 
Houseboat is a jewel in the crown of Dal Lake.

How many Houseboat do we have in Kashmir ?
The total houseboats we have is 911registered with Department of tourism, we have them maximum in Dal Lake , then Nigeen Lake and Jhelum river .
A lot of talk is on water pollution caused due to waste of Dal Lake ?
We are not to blamed for the waste going on in Dal Lake as we Houseboats are being made scapegoat for polluting Dal Lake . There are more than 50 Mohallas in Dal Lake wherein more than one lac souls live currently. These people waste direct or indirect goes to Dal Lake . The Dal Dweller rehabilitation has not gone beyond five Mohalla . Our houseboats do not much pollute as compared to these areas inside Dal Lakes . Our waste disposal too has improved . We had also requested Government especially tourism for giving us modern toilets but unfortunately engineers have failed three times in this. When our country can raise flag on moon why can our scientists and engineers have modern and sophisticated toilet system .
How much is houseboat importance to tourism in Kashmir ?
Houseboat is part of our tourism and heritage since the era of Maharaja. It is only the Houseboat sector that through not just Houseboat but via treking ,bringing tourists here in turmoil has kept flames of tourism alive in Kashmir .
How much you have suffered due to last few years downside especially during pandemic Coronavirus?
The times for tourism and Houseboat sector have been worse in Kashmir. First we saw much downfall with the abrogation of article 370. When we hoped for revival pandemic Coronavirus came and destroyed tourism of entire world including Kashmir. But since more than one month the tourism of Kashmir is picking up.
What changes would you like to see from Government side to promote tourism ?
The Government of our country needs to make due changes to make tourism survive in the pandemic times . We need to reform our SOPs. I was recently in Gujarat and tourists coming there have to pay hefty amount to do RTPCR. Plus we should have Covid test at just one  airport  and make also rules of quarantine feasible .
 Where you firebrand since childhood days ?
Yes I was firebrand and revolutionary since childhood days , reading books, writings , quotes from intellectual voices since early days. I also loved to be in the company of intellectual people since early days .

A bit about your heritage Houseboat?

We established our Houseboat buisness since 1916 by our great Grandfather. We have houseboats in name of Golden Flower, New Golden Flower , the first one was Henly  which is now not existing . We have also floating Heaven . I am the fifth generation in Houseboat ,the first family to be in houseboat buisness since more than hundred years and hence our houseboats are heritage. . innumerable celebrities have stayed in our houseboats . Our all three houseboats are currently in Nigeen.


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