Kaptai dam opened today, no risk of inundating lowlands
As of 3pm yesterday, the water level in Kaptai Lake was recorded at 107.66 MSL (mean sea level) while the lake’s maximum water capacity is 109 MSL
Kaptai Hydropower Plant. Photo: UNB
“>
Kaptai Hydropower Plant. Photo: UNB
All 16 spillway gates of Kaptai Lake dam were opened this morning (25 August), but there is no risk of inundation in low-lying areas.
The dam gates were opened by six inches at 8am today, and 9000 cusecs (cubic feet per second) of water were released from Kaptai Lake, confirmed Karnaphuli Hydropower Plant Manager ATM Abduzzaher.
However, there is no risk of inundation from this release, he added.
The water was released from the Kaptai dam as the Karnaphuli Hydro Power plant’s water levels reached the danger level, which is 109 feet.
Continuous rains and the hill slopes coming down from upstream for the past few days raised the water levels of the Kaptai Lake.
The artificial Kaptai Lake was created in 1962 by constructing a dam in Kaptai upazila of Rangamati, some 50 km from Chattogram city.
According to media reports, an area of 655 square kilometres was flooded due to the dam instalment and about 1,00,000 people were displaced. At that time, this lake, which had a catchment area of 4,250 square miles, served as a reservoir for power generation. Apart from the rains, the slopes of the Lusai hills in India are located on the surface of the lake and water flows into the lake even if it rains there.
Turning the turbines of the hydropower plant, the water is discharged into the estuaries of Halda and Karnaphuli rivers.
The hydropower station has a total of five units with 230 MW power generating capacity. At present, all the units are operational but the maximum power generation is 219 MW.
The depth of the Kaptai dam is 127 feet. During the rainy season, water is stored in the reservoir up to a maximum of 109 feet. When the water level reaches 108 MSL, it is released through the spillway di scharge.
