Kaptai Dam of Bangladesh

Kaptai dam is the one and only dam of Bangladesh that is used to generate hydro-electric power. This dam was constructed across Karnaphuli River at Kaptai in Rangamati district, 65 km upstream of Chittagong. It is an earthfill embankment dam which reservoir is called Kaptai Lake. The water storage capacity of the Kaptai dam is 11000 km². The construction of the dam was started in 1957 and was completed in 1962.

Under the guidance of then Chief Engineer (Irrigation) Khwaja Azimuddin, the construction site was chosen at present location of the dam in 1951. The International Engineering Co. Inc. (IECO) was engaged for a study on the project. Utah International Inc. was selected as construction contractor.

The 16 gated (each 12.2 m X 11.3 m size) spillway of Kaptai Dam have discharge capacity of 625000 cusec.

In 1962, the the dam, spillway, penstock and two units of powerhouses were built. Each of the powerhouses was capable of generating 40MW of electricity. In November 1981 another 50MW generating unit was completed. In October 1988 the 4th and 5th generating units were installed which raised the total generation capacity to 230MW. The total cost of Unit 1, Unit 2 and a part of Unit 3 was Rs. 503 million and the total cost of extension was Tk. 1,900 million. The spillways was constructed on the left side of the main dam. The 16 gated (each 12.2 m X 11.3 m) spillway have discharge capacity of 625000 cusec. The construction of these system (dam, spillways and others) required to excavate 113400 cubic m. The dead storage at 23.16m above MSL is 1.18 million ac-ft. Flood storage capacity is 0.83 million ac-ft.  

Kaptai Dam with spillway and Power Plant

Kaptai dam can reduce the downstream flood peak in the Karnafuli river by 50% by storing water in the reservoir. Kaptai dam is 670.56m long and 45.7m high. The width at the foundation level is 45.7m and at crest level 7.6m. The crest level is 36m above mean sea level (MSL).

Beauty of Kaptai Lake

 The 11000 km² catchment area of the reservoir of the Kaptai dam claims 220 km² of cultivable land of which 40% cultivable land in this area and displace 18000 families submerging a total of 655 km²