Karnafuli Hydroelectric Plant Opens Spillway Gates as Kaptai Lake Water Rises

In an effort to effectively manage and reduce mounting water pressure, authorities at the Karnafuli Hydroelectric Power Station have officially opened all sixteen spillway gates of the vital Kaptai Dam. The strategic decision was implemented on Saturday, affecting the water levels and flow dynamics surrounding Kaptai Lake and the downstream Karnafuli River. According to official operational details, each of the sixteen individual spillway gates has been lifted by exactly six inches to allow for a controlled and steady discharge of water from the swollen reservoir.

Through this deliberate partial opening of the spillway gates, water is currently being discharged into the Karnafuli River at a significant rate of approximately nine thousand cusecs every single second. This controlled release is a crucial technical measure designed to maintain safe operational parameters within the hydroelectric infrastructure while preventing uncontrolled overflow or potential flooding concerns in the surrounding region as water levels continue to fluctuate.

Providing detailed technical context regarding the ongoing operations, Mahmud Hasan explained the combined volume of water currently leaving the facility. "বর্তমানে বিদ্যুৎকেন্দ্রের সচল ৫টি ইউনিটের মাধ্যমে বিদ্যুৎ উৎপাদনের জন্য প্রতি সেকেন্ডে আরো প্রায় ৩২ হাজার কিউসেক পানি নিষ্কাশন করা হচ্ছে। ফলে স্পিলওয়ে ও বিদ্যুৎ উৎপাদন উভয় মাধ্যম মিলে এখন প্রতি সেকেন্ডে মোট ৪১ হাজার কিউসেক পানি কর্ণফুলী নদীতে গিয়ে আছড়ে পড়ছে," Mahmud Hasan stated, outlining the total discharge entering the river system.

To understand the necessity of these ongoing water management actions, technical records highlight the capacity constraints of the reservoir. Kaptai Lake possesses a designated maximum water holding capacity of 109 feet MSL (Mean Sea Level). The facility closely monitors these thresholds to ensure structural integrity and continuous power generation capabilities throughout changing seasonal weather patterns and upstream inflow variations.

This recent operational adjustment is not without precedent during the current seasonal cycle. Earlier in the operational timeline, the facility previously opened all sixteen spillway gates of the Kaptai Dam during a first phase on July 18, before subsequently closing those same gates a few days later on July 23 as conditions temporarily stabilized.

At present, the hydroelectric facility is maintaining robust power generation operations alongside its spillway management. The installation currently has five active generating units fully operational, which collectively contribute to the ongoing management of the water levels by utilizing the reservoir's inflows for regional electricity production before the water ultimately joins the Karnafuli River flow.