SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad Dec 31: In wake of a possible mass surge of revellers, the Dhanbad administration has imposed a ban on generator boats in Maithon dam on the occasion of the New Year celebration and has prohibited carrying people more than the capacity on a boat.
More than 50,000 New Year revellers especially from Bengal, Odisha, Bihar and different districts of Jharkhand come to the picturesque Maithon dam of DVC on January 1 every year. The boating in the dam is the centre of attraction for many. Due to mad rush, boatmen operate till evening and load more than the capacity of the boat.
Taking advantage of the occasion, boatmen also realize the mammoth price of boating from the visitors who come from Kolkata, Bhubaneswar with family.
After getting continuous complaints of excessive charges from visitors and loading of people beyond the capacity of the boat by operators, Dhanbad SDM Prem Kumar Tiwary along with the block development officer (BDO) and Circles Officer (CO) of Gyarahkund inspected Maithon Boat Ghat.
Taking serious note of excessive charges from New Year revellers, Dhanbad SDM directed boatmen to take a fixed rate of boating from visitors during the New Year celebration and do not load more than the permitted capacity of the boat.
“Irregularities were found during the inspection. All officers and the Maithon police station officer in charge have been directed to ensure strict implementation of Jharkhand government’s tourism department guidelines for the safety of visitors on New Year,” said SDM to media persons.
SDM said all boatmen have been directed to provide life jackets to all revellers on the boat and to not carry more than capacity and operate the generator boat. The administration has also strictly ordered to avoid boating after dark in Dam.
“Security personnel under magistrate have been deployed around the dam for safety point of view. If any boat operator is found violating guidelines as well as directives, legal action would be taken against him,” said SDM
