Rangamati’s Kaptai Lake has risen, prompting authorities to reopen 16 sluice gates at the Kaptai Dam by six inches each to release excess water.

The gates were reopened at 8:00 am on Friday, sending 9,000 cusecs of water per second into the Karnaphuli River, said Mahmud Hasan, manager of the Karnaphuli Hydroelectric Power Station.

Data from the power station’s control room showed the lake’s water level at 105.49ft above mean sea level (MSL), bdnews24.com reports.

The water is being used to generate 222MW of electricity from all five units of the power station.

The Kaptai Dam can hold water up to 109ft MSL, while 108ft is considered the danger level.

Hasan said the 16 gates had been reopened by six inches each as the lake level rose, adding that they could be opened further if the water flow increased.

The 16 gates were previously opened by six inches each on August 29. They were fully closed on September 6 after the lake’s water level fell.