Karnaphuli Hydropowerplant a.k.a Kaptai Dam

Karnaphuli Hydro Power Station, the only hydropower plant in the country is located at Kaptai, about 50 km from the port city of CHITTAGONG. This plant was constructed in 1962 as part of the

'Karnaphuli Multipurpose Project', and is one of the biggest water resources development project of Bangladesh.

The penstock draws water from the reservoir and injects it into the turbine blades, which results in turbine rotation. The turbine shaft is coupled with an AC Generator through a shaft. The scroll case with the turbine ensures uniform water flow towards the turbine blades. The turbine discharged water follows (as can be

seen as region-1 in Fig. ) into the draft tube and finally exits to the tailrace.

As the only hydroelectric power station in BD it has its own glory and significance. Civil engineers contribute to the design, planning, and construction of the plant, ensuring its efficiency and

environmental impact. They assess the existing plant and propose methods to boost power output. Besides they address challenges related to dam construction, spillways, penstocks, and

turbine installations. Also ensuring structural integrity, safety, and long-term sustainability. If any harmful effects shown by the project such as biodiversity or environmental factors, they can also

be minimized by probability factors. Certain challenges faced during the dam construction also develops our experience and further develops the engineering knowledge. The load factor in a

dam is way different than other construction projects. It needs utmost care and precision to design

such huge construction.

The Karnaphuli 230 MW hydroelectric power plant has brought about several negative consequences for the environment and local communities. Firstly, it has reduced biodiversity and

blocked fish migration in the area, impacting the ecosystem. Additionally, the construction and operation of the plant have led to lower crop production and degraded water quality. Moreover, it

disrupts water and sediment flow, affecting the overall health of the river. The displacement of communities due to the project has also been a significant social issue, while the release of greenhouse gases contributes to environmental concerns. Furthermore, the altered water conditions have increased the risk of water-borne diseases in the region. These combined effects highlight the complex challenges associated with hydroelectric power projects and the need for careful environmental and social considerations in such endeavors.

The power project displaced around 100,000 people from their aboriginal homeland and encroached on 56,000 hectares of fertile land without rehabilitation measures. The dam's maximum capacity is 230 MW, affecting nearly 2% of the country's current electrical production. As per a latest report, the dam is only producing electricity of 13-26% of its actual capacity, leading the country's first hydropower plant towards an uncertain future.

Article Courtesy: Shantonu Das [CE'20]

Design Courtesy: Sourov Saha [CE'19]

Photo Courtesy: Moheen Reeyad/Wikimedia Commons