With water levels in Kaptai Lake nearing the danger mark, authorities have decided to open 16 floodgates at the spillway of the Kaptai hydropower station from 10 p.m. tonight, Saturday, to control flooding in upstream and downstream areas. The Karnaphuli Hydro Electric Power Station authority announced the decision in a notice issued Saturday afternoon.
According to the Kaptai hydropower station, the water level in Kaptai Lake was recorded at 105.64 feet MSL (mean sea level) at 2 p.m. Saturday. The lake’s maximum water-holding capacity is 109 feet MSL.
The notice said that with the lake’s water level approaching the danger mark, the decision was made to open 16 spillway gates to drain water, with the aim of managing water levels and controlling flooding in upstream and downstream areas. Preparations are under way to raise the gates by 6 inches starting at 10 p.m. tonight, Saturday, to begin releasing water.
Initially, the 16 floodgates will each be opened 6 inches, releasing roughly 9,000 cusecs of water per second. Alongside this, five units of the Kaptai hydropower station remain operational for power generation. These units are discharging an additional roughly 32,000 cusecs of water per second.
Karnaphuli Hydro Electric Power Station manager Mahmud Hasan said the lake’s water level, rainfall, and the flow of water from upstream are being monitored continuously. Depending on rainfall and water-flow conditions, the duration of the spillway opening and the volume of water released may be increased.