Maithon Dam

Maithon Dam, whose name is derived from Mai-ka-sthan (the Mother’s Abode), is a landmark of modern Indian engineering and a major tourist hub. It is located on the Barakar River at the border of Dhanbad (Jharkhand) and Paschim Bardhaman (West Bengal).

Inaugurated in 1957, Maithon was the third of the four multi-purpose dams planned by the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC). Its construction was a landmark event for independent India, aimed at flood control, irrigation, and power generation. A unique historical feat of this dam is that it houses South East Asia’s first underground hydel power station, built nearly 100 feet below the water level to generate 60 MW of electricity.

The dam is a massive structure, stretching approximately 4.7 kilometers (15,712 feet) in length and rising to a height of 50 meters (165 feet). The reservoir it creates, known as Maithon Lake, is the largest in the DVC system, covering a surface area of about 65 square kilometers.

Today, Maithon Dam remains a high-functioning utility and a premier weekend getaway. While it continues to provide crucial flood moderation and power—now supplemented by the nearby Maithon Power Limited (a Tata Power-DVC joint venture)—it faces long-term challenges such as sedimentation, which has gradually reduced its original storage depth.