Patience of anglers seems to be running out as three lakes in the steel city still remains out of bounds for them.

The Covid-19 pandemic has hit angling hard in the steel city. It forced cancellation of two annual events -- one on the birth anniversary of doyen of Indian industry JRD Tata on July 29 and the day-and night competition in November. Both these competition attract good number of participants, especially from Calcutta and Kharagpur.

There is an impressive stock of fish at Jayanti Sarovar, Beldih and Bara lakes. Members are anxious and want angling to resume at the earliest.

A wide section of over 250-odd members blame the rules of Jamshedpur Angling Club (JAC) which mentions that the activity cannot be conducted in rest of the lakes if Jayanti Sarovar in Jubilee Park remains shut. This effectively means, angling cannot take place at Beldih Lake (in Dhatkidih) and Bara Lake (near Sidhgora) till Jayanti Sarovar re-opens.

Angling is still not conducted at Jayanti sarovar since the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The rules of the club should be amended so that we can go for angling at Beldih and Bara lakes. My patience is running out. What is the harm if we catch fish at these two lakes," said Ehtesham Ansari, a JAC member in an angry tone.

Biplab Das, another member, echoed him and said: “The rules of the club have become outdated. The club should go for popularising angling in the city. We also want women to join us as members. Continue angling by wearing mask and maintaining social distancing We canBut things cannot go forward till rules were amended."

Most of the JAC members came up with similar views.

JAC general secretary Sukumar Ghoshal said their hands were tied.

"We are helpless. Jayanti sarovar is the mother tank. Angling can only take place at Beldih and Bara lakes when the Sarovar is re-opened. We are keen to resume angling but rules don't allow us," he said.

According to Ghoshal, rules of the club are being followed since 1947 and it is for the first time angling has to be stopped owing to the pandemic.

"The situation is unique for us but we need to adhere to the existing rules," Ghoshal said.

Ghoshal said there was adequate fish stock at all the three lakes."Angling has been forced to discontinue for over a year now. Obviously, fish stock is not an issue. But we shall have to wait till angling is allowed at the sarovar," he added.