The Daily Star, Vol. 5 Num 47
Tue. July 13, 2004
Our Correspondent, Rangamati
The country's lone hydroelectric dam downstream the Karnaphuli river in
Kaptai is under threat as water pressure increased due to downpour and
onrush of water from the Lushai Hills until yesterday, Plant Manager
Liakat Ullah told reporters.
Water level yesterday reached close to the dam's capacity and is rising
alarmingly as onrush of hilly water and incessant rain continued, dam
officials said.
They recorded 105.7 MSL (mean sea level) yesterday at 8:00am against 109
MSL capacity of the dam, official sources said.
The sources viewed the rise in water level alarming as an earthquake
last year weakened the decades old dam. The then Pakistani government
set up the dam on the mouth of the Karnaphuli in the 1950s and opened it
for power generation in 1960.
Liakat said the dam releases 190,000-cusec water every day with all of
its 16 spillways remaining nine-foot open. "We're watching over the
situation and informed higher authorities of the latest development," he
added.
Deputy Commissioner of Rangamati Jafar Ahmed Khan admitted the need for
a special survey on the dam's framework.
The Power Development Board (PDB) has meanwhile conducted a survey on
setting up of another power generation unit. Currently five units carry
the generation of power.