Steel city anglers, who were looking forward to test their patience after a six-month hiatus, are in for a disappointment.

The Jamshedpur Angling Club (JAC) has decided to keep the activity suspended till September or beyond in view of coronavirus, although angling was slated to resume next month at three city lakes after remaining closed since February 1.

“The Covid-19 situation in Jamshedpur is not good. Angling was supposed to resume at Jayanti Sarovar (in Jubilee Park), Beldih Lake (Dhatkidih) and Bara Lake (near Sidhgora) in the last week of July. But we have decided to keep the activity suspended till September, or beyond, depending on the situation,” said JAC general secretary Sukumar Ghoshal.

The three water tanks will remain closed for six months.

Keeping in mind social distancing aspect, the Club is against taking any unnecessary risk.

“It is difficult to maintain social distancing and it is not easy to keep tabs on each and every angler. So, there is no need to take any unnecessary risk,”Ghoshal explained.

JAC has over 250 members, most of whom go for angling at the three water tanks.

“The water tanks are clean and fish stock is very impressive. All the three water bodies were well maintained. We close the lakes for six months in a year to allow fish stock to grow ,” he added.

On whether the annual angling competition to mark Bharat Ratna JRD Tata's birth anniversary on July 29 will be organised, the JAC secretary said Jubilee Park continues to remain closed in view of the lockdown and they were not sure when it will re-open.

"We'll go ahead with the competition only after the park re-opens and after getting a nod from Tata Steel Utilities and Infrastructure Services Ltd (formerly Jusco), the custodian of the lake," said Ghoshal.

Anglers from Bengal, mostly from Calcutta, participate in the angling competition.