Downstream alert as Kaptai Dam to release water tomorrow

Authorities will release water from the Kaptai Dam on Saturday as continuous rainfall and upstream hill runoff have increased inflow into Kaptai Lake, prompting precautionary measures to manage the rising water level.

According to a statement signed by Mahmud Hasan, manager of the Karnafuli Hydroelectric Power Station, the dam’s 16 spillway gates will be opened by six inches each after 11:00 am on Saturday (July 18), allowing 9,000 cusecs of water per second to be discharged.

The decision aims to reduce pressure on the reservoir and help control potential flooding in upstream and downstream areas.

The lake’s current water level stands at 103.91 feet mean sea level (MSL), while the dam’s maximum storage capacity is 109 feet MSL.

Authorities said water levels, rainfall and inflow are being monitored continuously, and the timing or volume of the discharge may be adjusted depending on changing conditions.

If inflow increases further, the spillway gates may be opened wider in phases.

The power station is currently releasing around 32,000 cusecs of water daily through its five generating units to produce electricity. Current power generation stands at 222 megawatts.

The Karnafuli Hydroelectric Power Station has urged residents of low-lying areas along the Karnafuli River, as well as boat operators, fishermen and others using the river, to remain cautious during the water release.

The Kaptai Dam was constructed on the Karnafuli River between 1956 and 1962 to establish Bangladesh’s only hydroelectric power project, creating the artificial Kaptai Lake.

The dam’s 745-foot spillway, equipped with 16 gates, has a maximum discharge capacity of 525,000 cusecs per second.

The power station currently operates five generating units with a combined installed capacity of 230 megawatts.