The 16 sluice gates of the Kaptai dam, which had been opened to release excess water following continuous rain and rising water levels, were closed on Monday after the situation returned to normal.
Karnaphuli Hydropower Plant Manager ATM Abduzzaher confirmed the development on Monday morning, adding that water levels in Kaptai Lake had exceeded the danger mark due to heavy rainfall.
While the lake’s water-holding capacity is 109MSL (Mean Sea Level), the water level crossed 108MSL, prompting authorities to open the sluice gates on August 25.
At 8am on that day, 16 sluices were opened by six inches, discharging 9,000 cusecs of water per second into the Karnaphuli River. As rainfall persisted, the sluices were gradually opened further, up to five feet.
With the water level receding, the sluices were closed on Monday morning. Currently, five units of the Karnaphuli power plant are generating between 210 to 220 megawatts of electricity per day.