Ehsan Fazili/Srinagar

The famous Dal lake of Srinagar would have only 910 houseboats as against more than 1000 existing ones to check the increasing chemical pollution of the famous lake in Srinagar.

This part of the policy-cum-guidelines for ‘sustainable operation of houseboats in Dal and Nigeen lakes’ approved by the government of the Union territory on Monday. Houseboats in twin lakes of Dal and Nigeen are favourites homestays of tourists and also a major source of pollutants in the lakes.

The policy is aimed at preserving the marine eco-system of both the lakes by regulating the discharge of houseboats moored there. “It is meant to encourage sustainable and responsible tourism and aims at providing a pleasant experience to tourists and sustainable source of livelihood to stakeholders while preserving the fragile ecosystem,” a handout of the government said. 

The Tourism Department has capped the number of houseboats in both lakes at 910. Under the new policy, the houseboats have to get registered online within 30 days, to show compliance with fresh guidelines.

Under this policy houseboats should be fitted with bio-digesters for treatment of solid and liquid waste and it has to be compliant with standards set by the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA). Each houseboat has to install fire safety equipment and have trained staff verified by Fire and Emergency Services Department.

Tourists taking a shikara ride in Dal Lake

The policy lays down specifications for facilities like kitchen, lodging, furniture, first-aid, electricity, power back-up, sanitary fittings and shikara for navigation. It also seeks to classify the houseboats into categories based on the facilities these provide.

The policy also deals with issues like repairs on the damaged or abandoned houseboats, and revival of cruise boats and Donga cruise.

The Houseboat Owners Association chief Abdul Rasheed Kolu said they hve been in touch with the Tourism Department on this during the past one year. “We are still studying the fine print of the policy.”

He said though the Association was ready to cooperate with the Government for preservation of the lakes. However, the guidelines enshrined in the policy, he said appeared to be ‘difficult’ part of the policy.

He also said the policy had taken only the Dal-Nigeen lakes into cognizance while there was no mention of the houseboats in Chinar Bagh and river Jhelum.

Also, it’s not clear s to how the government would deal with the population living on the unauthorised island in the Dal lake and illegal floating gardens in the lake that are a major source of vegetables to the city of Srinagar.