Kaptai Dam (Bengali: কাপ্তাই বাঁধ) is located on the Karnaphuli River at Kaptai, 65 km
upstream from Chittagong in Rangamati District, Bangladesh. It is an earthfill embankment
dam with a reservoir (known as Kaptai Lake) water storage capacity of 11,000
km². The primary purpose of the construction of the dam and reservoir was to
generate hydroelectric power. Construction was completed in 1962.
History
A
brief reconnaissance was carried out in 1906 when the Karnafuli Hydropower
Station was first contemplated. A second study was carried out in 1923. In
1946, E. A. Moore recommended the proposed project at Barkal about 65
kilometers upstream of present dam site at Kaptai. In 1950, Marz Rendal Vatten
Consulting Engineers proposed a site at Chilardak, about 45 kilometers upstream
of Kaptai. In 1951, the government engineers proposed a site at Chitmoram which
is 11 kilometers downstream of the present site. 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 construction of the dam started in
1957.
