Kaptai Dam's 16 spillways closed after 5 days

Authorities have closed all 16 spillway gates of the Kaptai Hydroelectric Power Plant after five days as the water level in Kaptai Lake returned to normal.

The spillway gates were shut at 11PM on Wednesday, following a reduction in the lake's water level. The gates had been opened at 11:20AM on July 18 to release excess water into the Karnaphuli River in response to rising water levels caused by continuous heavy rainfall and upstream hill runoff.

Confirming the development, Md Mahmudul Hasan, Manager (Engineering) of the Kaptai Hydroelectric Power Plant, said that approximately 9,000 cusecs of water per second had been discharged through the 16 spillway gates over the past five days to ease pressure on the reservoir.

He said the water level in Kaptai Lake currently stands at 103.31 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL), which is within the normal operating range under the power plant's rule curve.

The lake's water level had approached the danger threshold due to persistent rainfall and inflows from upstream hilly areas, necessitating the controlled release of excess water.