Persistent rain has increased the water level of Rangamati's Kaptai Lake to near its capacity, driving the hydropower production at the lake.
ATM Abduzzaher, the manager of the power plant, said that as of Friday noon , the water level had reached 106.06 feet mean sea level, up from 105.11 feet msl at 11pm on Thursday night and 105.84 feet msl at 9am on Thursday morning.
"Kaptai Lake's full water capacity is 109 feet msl," he said. "For power production, about 30,000 cusecs are released every second. Usually, if the water level crosses 108 msl, we open the gate."
The engineer said the claims making the rounds on social media that the lake's gates were opened without warning were just 'rumours'.
"We always inform the Kaptai and Rangunia Upazila administration, the Chattogram Port Authority, and the navy by letter before we open the gates to Kaptai Lake. Then they take the necessary steps. We don't make announcements by megaphone. Those are things that they do."
Abduzzaher said that everyone should behave responsibly as the country was experiencing a disaster.
The increase in the lake's water level has also increased the production of the Karnaphuli hydropower plant. On Friday, 218 MW of electricity was generated, which is the highest this season, according to the Karnaphuli Hydropower Plant Authority.
According to information from the hydropower plant, the power generation capacity of the five units of the power plant ranges from 230 to a maximum of 242 MW. Of this, a maximum of 46 MW can be generated from units 1 and 2 and a maximum of 50 MW from units 3, 4 and 5.
With the water level rising in Kaptai Lake, currently 46 MW is being produced from Unit No. 1, 49 MW from Unit No. 3 and an average of 40 MW from Units No. 2, 4 and 5.
However, due to mechanical defects and various other reasons, it is no longer possible to produce the maximum of 245 MW.
Abduzzaher said due to lack of water in Kaptai Lake, it was possible to keep only one unit operational until the middle of May. This caused power generation to come down to 25 MW.
"Later in July and August, the water level of the lake increased due to several spells of rain. It is possible to turn on all the units in stages. At present, power generation is going on in all five units. On Friday, the production increased to 218 MW, which is the highest this season."
Meanwhile, the hanging bridge known as the 'Symbol of Rangamati' was flooded on Friday morning by rising water in the lake.
The boards of the bridge were under water on Friday and more of the bridge was being submerged as the water rose.
When the water level in the lake rises to 108 msl, the bridge is under about two to three feet of water.
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