Boats lie idle near Chandil dam. (Bhola Prasad)

Jamshedpur, July 22: The boat buzz at Chandil reservoir may be missing this tourist season in December. For, the areas near it will be submerged if the radial gates of the Chandil dam continue to be closed.

“The Subernarekha Multipurpose Project (SMP) authorities’ decision to close the radial gates has not only rendered thousands of villagers homeless, it will also make the boatmen jobless. Although water level at the reservoir is low at present, it will rise if the gates are kept shut. We are somehow meeting ends by catching fish but won’t survive without operating the boats,” said Narayan Gope, the president of Chandil Bandh Visthapit Swalambi Sahkari Samiti Ltd, a co-operative formed by the displaced.

Tourists from Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and also Uttar Pradesh troop to the scenic reservoir, located about 32km from Jamshedpur, in December-February. Besides enjoying a boat ride, many venture out to nearby areas for sight-seeing. In fact, several villagers, displaced by the SMP project, depend on the tourist flow for livelihood.

Although boating has been officially stopped since March 2007 — after expiry of a one-year tender — the displaced continue to operate the boats to earn some bucks. “Somehow, we have managed to carry on the activity on our own though we have only a 15-seat motor boat and three pedal boats. As it is off-season now, the boats are being used for fishing. Things would have looked up towards the end of the year but for the decision of the SMP authorities to close the radial gates of the dam,” Gope said.

The displaced youths now want the state irrigation department to take up their cause and find a safe location for boating.

“An auction should be held soon for streamlining the system. More boats should be made available,” said Nav Kishore Gope, a member of the samiti.

Arvind Anjum, an activist of Visthapit Mukti Vahini, blamed the state for the present state of affairs.

“Chandil dam can be developed into a thriving tourist spot. It will not only generate revenue, but also help the displaced make a living. But sheer negligence on the part of the state is responsible for the boating tender not getting renewed in 2007,” Anjum said.

Mukul Sinha, executive engineer of Chandil (camp division), conceded that the boating location would be submerged.

“The present water level at Chandil reservoir is 173.3m. It is expected to rise to about 182m in the coming months and will submerge the spot. We are planning to shift boating to a new location. We are also serious about floating a fresh tender,” he added.