Jamshedpur: The attraction quotient of Chandil dam is set to rise several notches with the introduction of jet skiing from the middle of this month.

Adventure sports enthusiasts can now look forward to skimming the mirror surface of the major tourist hotspot, nestling on the banks of Subernarekha with Dalma's hilly forest as the backdrop, in Seraikela-Kharsawan, around 33km from here.

State tourism department deputy secretary Vidyanand Sharma Pankaj, who is also the deputy director of Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation (JTDC), said the personal water craft used in jet-skiing would start operating from the middle of February.

"The idea is to promote Chandil dam as a tourism destination by encouraging water sport activities similar to Goa. We have procured the equipment from a Calcutta-based private firm. The personnel from the private firm will train the members of the fishermen's cooperative society (Chandil Dam Visthapith Matsyajivi Swavlambi Sahakari Samity) before jet-skiing is made public. We plan to introduce the facility in Patratu dam as well," the tourism deputy secretary said.

Sources said the tourism department had allocated around Rs 98 lakh to promote water sports in Chandil dam. A personal water craft (also known as water scooter), two rescue boats, two kayaks and 40 life jackets have already been procured from the Calcutta firm at a cost of around Rs 20 lakh.

"We are trying to attract more tourists to Chandil dam and the measures are a step in that direction. We have hired a private consultant (I-Deck) to prepare a detailed project report to make it a tourism destination. There are proposals to start water cruise, cafeterias and parks as well. The Seraikela-Kharsawan district administration has been asked to transfer land near Chandil dam for this purpose. We hope to have the infrastructure in place soon. Proper lights will be installed, approach roads constructed and other basic infrastructure developed at the place," Pankaj said.

Seraikela-Kharsawan DC Chhavi Ranjan and the representative of private consultant visited the dam on Friday.

"We did a joint visit today (Friday) along with the private consultant and will soon start the process of transfer of over 11 acre belonging to the Subernarekha Multi-purpose Project to the tourism department to improve tourism infrastructure at Chandil dam,' Ranjan said.

According to president of the Chandil Dam Visthapith Matsyajivi Swavlambi Sahakari Samity, Narayan Gope, the improvement of infrastructure and additional water sports activities would not only bring in tourists but also improve the livelihood of fishermen.

"At the moment, there are four six-seater paddle boats, one 10-seater speed boat and two four-seater motor boats. Last month, the tourism department built a jetty for Rs 10 lakh. It will provide direct and indirect employment to hundreds of displaced villagers forced to eke out a living by catching fish,' Gope said.

The Chandil dam boasts an annual footfall of nearly 2 lakh tourists, especially between November and February.