Kaptai Lake getting silted up

As the water level of Kaptai lake has fallen, a hillock has emerged with marks of erosion. Erosion of numerous hillocks and riverbanks and dumping of about two tonnes of garbage a day is gradually silting up the lake. PHOTO: STAR

Picturesque Kaptai Lake, the country's lone manmade lake in Rangamati hill district, is gradually becoming silted due to deposit of soil because of erosion of hillocks and dumping of garbage.

Besides long term affects, it is causing disruption in power generation by Kaptai Hydroelectric Project and hampering growth of fishery due to low level of water in dry season.

Sources in the Fisheries Research Institute (FRI) here said erosion takes place at hundreds of hillocks in the 380 square mile lake and in banks of different rivers, mainly during the monsoon.

"As a result the lake is becoming silted, affecting proper growth of fishes in shallow waters in different areas in the dry season" said FRI Senior Scientific Officer Md. Alamgir Hossain.

The issue was discussed at a meeting held at the Rangamati Deputy Commissioner's office in March last year where Deputy Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs Moniswapon Dewan had said a proposal was sent to appropriate authorities for dredging in vital flow-points of the lake. But nothing has been done.

When asked, Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Gazi Md. Zulhash told the Daily Star yesterday that the proposal was sent during the tenure of the previous DC. "I am not aware what has been done in this regard", he said.

Sources at the hydroelectric project said in many areas, there has been 10-12 feet soil deposit in prime flow pints. Creaks in many areas, seen earlier is not seen now, which also proves deposit of soil, they said.

During peak dry season, one or two power generation units out of three can be operated as the level of water declines, they said.

The lake was build by clogging a channel of Karnaphuli river at Kaptai Mukh in Kaptai upazila in 1960s by the then Pakistan government for setting up of the hydroelectric project. The dam however closed flows of four hill rivers --Chengi, Katchalong, Karnaphuli, Mainee-- displacing about one lakh people. About 54,000 acres of arable land were also lost to the lake.

Dilip Choudhury, Sub Divisional Engineer of the Department of Public Health, said yesterday their study showed that about two tonnes of garbage are being dumped into the lake everyday. These are released mostly by small and cottage industries, sawmills and handloom centres.

Waste from around 500 hanging latrines in Reserve Bazar, Tabalchhari, Public Health area, Rajdeep, Bonorupa and Tribal Adam in the town flow into the lake, adding to the siltation and pollution.

"We tried to motivate the people but did not get an encouraging response", he said.

The pollution is also seriously affecting growth of fishes, he said.

Meanwhile, some voluntary organisations conducted several campaigns including formation of human chain to create awareness among the people not to dump garbage or waste in the lake.

"But these produced virtually no result as people living on the lake's banks are mostly poor and illiterate ", said Sabuj, a campaigner and resident of Rajbari area.

The authorities concerned should play a strong role in this regard to save the lake from being pollution and being silted, he said.