A major trial is on in Kashmir to see if the Jhelum could be restored to being the pre-1947 Venice-like waterway linking cities and allowing a peep into the old city in Srinagar that houses heritage structures, shrines and temples.
The month-long trial, started in the first week of July, will assess the feasibility. Two motorboats of Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation and one motor-driven shikara (small boat), ferrying 18 passengers, are navigating on a daily basis from Lal Chowk, the heart of Srinagar, to the interiors up to Habba Kadal bridge. The trial comes after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said that she saw water transport as an “alternative to ease vehicular pressure on roads of the Valley.”
The 725-km long river connects south Kashmir’s Anantnag district with Srinagar before entering north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Vision for future
“There is a futuristic vision to develop water transport for which two water channels were earmarked, the Jhelum and the Dal Lake. An action plan is being prepared as per water transport standards found in European countries, especially Italy,” said Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan. Jammu & Kashmir’s Irrigation and Flood Control department, which is part of the trial, has been tasked with monitoring daily traffic.
“The move will boost tourism too,” said Mr. Khan.
An official said water transport will also turn the spotlight on heritage structures, shrines and temples on the river banks, which otherwise remain out of bounds due to the volatile situation.
The motor-driven traditional shikara , compared to the hand-powered ones, is also new to Kashmir and is allowed to cross through all the famous seven bridges across the Jhelum in the city.
