Kapati Hydropower Plant opening 16 gates tonight as lake water levels near danger mark

The Kaptai Hydropower Plant is set to release excess water from Kaptai Lake by opening 16 spillway gates as the water level has risen to 108 ft above mean sea level (MSL), approaching the danger mark.

According to ATM Abduzzaher, the manager of the Kaptai Hydropower Plant, the gates will be opened by 6 inches each at 10 pm on Saturday to discharge water.  

This decision follows continuous monitoring of water levels, which have increased rapidly due to heavy rainfall over the previous four days, leading to flash floods in the upstream areas.

Although there has been no rainfall in the last two days around Kaptai Lake and the surrounding upazilas, the water level in the lake has continued to rise hourly, driven by the earlier downpours and runoff from the hills.

The release of water through the spillway gates is expected to discharge approximately 9,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) of water. Depending on how the situation evolves, the plant may increase the gate openings to manage the lake’s water levels effectively.

Engineers at the power plant explained that Kaptai Lake’s maximum water-holding capacity is 109 ft MSL, with 108 ft being the threshold for the danger level.

By Saturday afternoon, the lake's water level had neared this critical point, necessitating the controlled release of water to prevent potential flooding in the upstream and downstream regions.

Currently, the hydropower plant is operating its five units, generating electricity by discharging 32,000 cubic feet per second (CFS) of water into the Karnaphuli River. The increase in water release is expected to raise the water level in the Karnaphuli River as well.

Sources from the plant's control room indicated that, based on the current rule curve, there is more water in the lake than required. The plant is currently producing up to 219 megawatts of electricity from its five units, although the maximum capacity ranges between 230 and 240 megawatts.