Ghulam Qadir Ghasi

Jhelum houseboat owners fear water transport plan may damage Srinagar’s river heritage

J&K government’s plan to launch inland water transport on the Jhelum river has triggered concern among Srinagar’s houseboat owners, who fear that regular passenger boats, cruise tourism operations and dredging along National Waterway-49 could further weaken the remaining river houseboats, a fear sharpened by the recent sinking of Queen’s Club, a British-era-style houseboat that served as both home and livelihood for a family on the river. For Ghulam Qadir Ghasi, 65, Queen’s Club was never...