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Srinagar, Nov 13: The livelihood of houseboat owners in Kashmir continues to suffer as the centuries-old heritage trade faces an uncertain future due to multiple challenges, including a longstanding ban on the construction, repair, and renovation of houseboats.

Manzoor Ahmad Pakhtoon, Chairman of All Kashmir Houseboat Owners Association (AKHBOA) said that the complete ban-imposed decades ago has left many houseboats in a state of disrepair.

“For decades, all repair and renovation work was effectively banned or required a lengthy, complex, and often impossible process of obtaining permissions from multiple government departments and even the High Court,” he said.

The restriction, in place since the late 1980s, has prevented the replacement of old or damaged houseboats, le

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