Srinagar, Mar 6: The six decade old demand of the Houseboat owners was fulfilled Saturday when the department of tourism laid the foundation stone for establishing a dockyard for facilitating renovation and repairs of houseboat at western Foreshore  road Kohna Khan Dalgate.
 The dockyard, according to the houseboat owners association, would not only help in the repairs but also the preservation of the houseboats, an important part of the Kashmir heritage.
 Minister for Tourism and Culture, Nawang Rigzin Jora, laid the foundation stone in the presence of the minister of state for tourism, Nasir Aslam Wani and Director Tourism, Farooq Ahmad Shah.
 Jora said tourism department recognised that Houseboats were an important part of Kashmir tourism and culture. He said the department would complete the construction of the dockyard in July while another dockyard would be set up in Nigeen Lake. “We will lay the foundation stone of the Nigeen dockyard in April,” he said.
 He said the department had to seek consent from the High Court for the constriction of dockyard as a ban was in place on the constrictions inside the lake.
 He said that tourism department this year was expecting more than double the number of tourists’ arrivals of the last year.
 “In a bid to more tourists, we are contemplating holding the annual convocation of Adventure Tour Operators Association of India in Kashmir in 2010. We are also expecting to host the PATA convention in Kashmir in 2011,” he said.
 Earlier Nasir Aslam Wani said that government has floated the idea of granting amnesty of loans to houseboat owners if they go for realignment of houseboats and dispose of waste scientifically installing septic tanks in houseboats.
 The director tourism, Farooq A Shah, warned the tourism service providers including houseboat owners, hoteliers and traders against cheating and duping tourists.
 President of the houseboat owners association, Manzoor Ahmad Wangnoo hailed the efforts of the minister of tourism and his team of officers.
“Houseboats are unique to Kashmir even as other states like Kerela and Goa have also constructed them. It is part of our culture and heritage and it will now be preserved in a much better way,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 6 Mar 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 6 Mar 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 7 Mar 2010 00:00:00 IST