Rangamati Correspondent

Due to decrease in water level in Kaptai Lake, on the one hand, electricity generation is disrupted and the suffering of the people who depend on the lake is increasing day by day.

Hundreds of thousands of small, large and small traders involved in hydropower plants, fish production and transportation of bamboo, trees and raw materials are facing financial losses. In particular, there is disruption in water communication with five upazilas. Apart from this, there is a navigability crisis due to filling of silt in several parts of Kaptai Lake.

Abdul Mannan, a bamboo trader at Jetghat in Kaptai, said that the business has collapsed due to the rapid decrease in the lake water. Transport of trees and bamboos by waterway from Maini, Marishya, Longadu, Bilaichari, and Harin chora has been stopped.

Vice President of Kaptai Wood Traders Association Lokman Ahmed and Secretary Fazal Haque said that due to decrease in water in the lake, there is a huge problem in shipping. Due to the disruption of the normal means of transporting wood from different places, the traders are facing losses.

There are 5 units in the hydro power plant. If all the 5 units are running simultaneously, it is possible to generate 240 MW electricity in the said center. According to the sources of Kaptai Hydropower Station, it is possible to generate 30 MW of electricity with only 1 unit out of 5 units. The current water level in the lake is 80.24 MSL,This time the water level is supposed to be 88.68 MSL. And although 5 units of Kaptai power plant are capable of power generation,but currently the power generation is disrupted due to lack of water.

In this regard, the manager of Kaptai water power plant, ATM Abduzzaher, said that the water level of Kaptai lake has decreased due to long-term non-rainfall. It is currently producing 30 to 40 megawatts of electricity instead of 230 megawatts. However, if there is rain in the future and the water level of Kaptai lake increases, the power generation may increase, he said.