The district administration is working to improve amenities at the Maithon ahead of the tourist season beginning next month and plans are afoot to build as many as 10 new washrooms and erect appropriate sign boards to warn visitors about danger zones.

Egyarkund BDO Anant Kumar said the tender process for constructing the toilets had been completed. “We will spend around Rs 60 lakh from district mineral development fund. Work is likely to begin soon,” he said, adding that although Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), which owns the dam, runs a few toilets near the boating ghat, these weren’t sufficient, especially during the picnic season, which begins in November and peaks by the end of December.

Situated about 48km from Dhanbad, Maithon has multiple attractions. The dam is 15,712 feet long and 165 feet high, erected over the Barakar river and Maithon lake, spread over 65sqkm.

Boating is allowed in the lake near the islands, primarily Sabuj Deep and Chamoch Deep. The Maa Kalyaneshwari temple less than 100 meter from the dam, is another attraction of visitors who come parts of Jharkhand and neighbouring Bengal and Bihar.

DVC also maintains a deer park, in addition to several rest houses, Majumdar Niwas and CMs Guest House.

Kumar said a large number of visitors also come to the Goghna area near the sports hostel, but due to lack of toilets in the area they are severely inconvenienced. “The situation at the Chhath Ghat is also similar,” he said.

On their plan to erect warning signboards, Kumar said the move would help prevent accidents.

“We will soon hold a meeting with various self help groups engaged in operating boats in dams. We will talk to them about adhering to safety protocols like the compulsory use of life jackets,” he said, adding that Dhanbad district administration was also working to expedite decisions taken at the August 7 meeting to build guest houses at Maithon, Panchet and Bhatinda.