Besides increasing menacing power outrage, the fall in water level is also hindering movement of vessels in picturesque Kaptai lake, a major tourist spot. Waterway links, the main means of communication in the district, has also been greatly affected in six out of ten upazilas of the district. People of Baghaichhari, Longudu, Barkal, Jurachhari, Bilaichhari and Naniachar upazilas fully depend on waterways for links with the district headquarters.

KHPP sources said, only one power generation unit (Unit no-2) out of five is producing only 40 MW electricity now whereas around 125 MW power was generated this time last year by Units of 1, 2 and 3.

The Means Sea Level (MSL) was 80.46 yesterday (Thursday) against 93.06 MSL this time last year, they said. The MSL usually remains at around 100.03 during winter.

Units 1, 3 and 4 are out of operation due to drastic fall in water level of Kaptai Lake and Unit 5 is silent due to mechanical fault, KHPP sources said.

The 213 square kilometers Kaptai Lake came into being due to construction of a massive dam on Karnaphuly to install Kaptai Hydroelectric Power Project in 1960. Since then, the power plant was producing around 230 MW power a day. The lake water usually falls in the dry season beginning from April.

Frequent load-shedding-- ten to twelve times a day--has made life miserable in Rangamati hill town.

KHPP sources said, the situation may be more difficult in coming days as the lake water has fallen alarmingly before advent of the dry season due to poor rainfall in the area during the last monsoon, they said. People at places have planted IRRi-Boro paddy in different areas of the silted lake.

KHPP project manager Khandakar Shafiqul Islam was not available for comment as he went to Dhaka for official purposes.

Abdul Jalil, manager of a navigation company, said launches are moving with risk on the lake and can not reached some upazilas headquarters including Baghaichhari, Jurachhari, Bilaichhari and Naniachar.