Kaptai, Aug 30 (V7N) - Authorities have further increased the opening of the 16 spillway gates at Kaptai Dam as the water level of Kaptai Lake continues to rise rapidly, releasing additional water into the Karnaphuli River.
The gates were initially opened by six inches each at around 8pm on Saturday, allowing approximately 9,000 cubic feet of water per second (cusecs) to flow from the lake into the Karnaphuli River.
Mahmud Hasan, manager (supervising engineer) of the Karnaphuli Hydropower Station, confirmed the opening of the gates shortly after 8pm.
According to the authorities, the water level of Kaptai Lake stood at 105.64 feet above mean sea level (MSL) at 2pm on Saturday. By evening, it had risen to approximately 105.98 feet MSL. The lake’s maximum capacity is 109 feet MSL.
As the water level continued to rise, the authorities opened the spillway gates to reduce pressure on the dam and discharge excess water.
Earlier on Saturday afternoon, the station authorities issued an emergency notice signed by the manager, informing relevant parties about the rapidly rising lake level. The authorities subsequently decided to release additional water into the river to keep the situation under control.
Meanwhile, all five generating units of the Kaptai Hydropower Station are currently operational. Normal power generation is already releasing approximately 32,000 cusecs of water per second into the Karnaphuli River.
With an additional 9,000 cusecs being discharged through the 16 spillway gates, the total flow of water into the river is expected to increase further.
As a result, water levels in the Karnaphuli River downstream of Kaptai Dam may rise. Authorities have advised residents of low-lying areas along the Karnaphuli River, particularly in Kaptai, Rangamati and Chattogram, to remain alert.
Later on Saturday night, authorities further increased the gate openings as the lake water continued to rise.
At around 11pm, the opening of each of the 16 spillway gates was increased from six inches to one foot. The move increased the discharge through the spillway to approximately 18,000 cusecs.
Tarek Ahmed, an engineer associated with the Karnaphuli Hydropower Station, said the gate openings were being increased gradually after assessing the lake’s water level and the overall situation.
“If the water level continues to rise, the gate openings may be increased by another one foot to two feet around 10am on Sunday,” he said.
If the gates are opened to two feet, approximately 39,000 cusecs of water could be released from Kaptai Lake into the Karnaphuli River, according to the authorities.
The gates were initially opened by six inches at around 8pm, releasing approximately 9,000 cusecs. Later, at around 10:35pm, the opening was doubled to one foot after authorities assessed the increasing pressure and rapid rise in the lake’s water level.
Relevant sources said excess water was being released into the Karnaphuli River in phases as the lake level approached its maximum storage capacity. Further increases in the lake level could prompt authorities to increase the spillway gate openings again.
The additional discharge could increase the flow of the Karnaphuli River downstream of the dam. Residents of low-lying areas along the river in Kaptai, Rangamati and Chattogram have therefore been advised to remain cautious.
A significant volume of water is also being released into the Karnaphuli River through the hydropower station as part of normal electricity generation. The additional spillway discharge could further increase the river’s flow in the coming hours.
END/AMR/SMA/
