English

Heavy rainfall and mountain runoff have caused the water level in Kaptai Lake to rise for nearly a week. On Wednesday, the water level in this Southeast Asian major artificial reservoir was about 101 MSL (meters above sea level), but by Thursday (August 22) afternoon, it had reached 104 MSL. Despite the increase in water due to rainfall, mountain runoff, and inflow from upstream, the authorities are currently not considering releasing the stored water from the lake into other parts of the Karnaphuli River. Additionally, there is no expectation of increasing production at the Karnaphuli Hydro Power Plant, the country's only hydroelectric power station.

The continuous heavy rainfall over the past few days has escalated the flood situation in Rangamati and Khagrachari. The water flow has significantly increased in several rivers, including the Rinkhyang River in the Biliaichhari Upazila of Rangamati, the Shaluk River in Jurachhari, the Kachalong River in Baghaichhari, the Maini River in Langadu, the Chenghi River in Naniarchar, and the Karnaphuli River in Barkal. This worsening situation underlines the urgency of the matter, emphasizing the need for immediate action.

Locals have voiced their concerns about the Kaptai Dam's practice of retaining or holding water, which is causing water to drain slowly from the flood-affected areas. This situation is worsening the flood situation, adding to the gravity of the matter.

Regarding this, ATM Abdul-Jaher, the manager engineer of the Karnaphuli Hydro Power Plant, told Bonik Barta, "As of Thursday (August 22) afternoon, the water level in the Kaptai Lake was 104 meters above sea level (MSL). The lake has a storage capacity of up to 109 MSL, so there is still a deficit of about 5 MSL. No decision has been made to release or discharge water from the Kaptai Dam. Last year, when the water level reached 108 MSL, the spillway of the Kaptai Dam was opened, but this year, the water flow is not as high as last year."

Regarding the plant's power generation, the engineer said, "Currently, five units of the power station are operational, generating a maximum of 2015-16 megawatts with an average of 40 megawatts per unit. Even if the lake water level increases further, there is no opportunity to increase power generation at this time."

In response to questions about the Kaptai Lake's water storage capacity and the potential opening of the dam's sluice gates, Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain Khan, the Rangamati District Commissioner and Chairman of the Kaptai Lake Management and Operations Committee, told Bonik Barta, "The Kaptai Lake has a storage capacity of 109 MSL. Currently, the water level in the lake is 104 MSL, which is still within the storage capacity. No decision has been made to release any water at this time."