SHANGLA: Protesters staged a demonstration against maps of the area designed by the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) for construction of dam without taking them into confidence.
Residents of Sarkool and Jatkool areas led by the area district councillor Qari Saaduddin, local elders and councillors took out a rally in Jatkool here on Sunday.
They said that WADPA engineers had been visiting the area since long, which had created uncertainty among the locals.
The protesters claimed that the engineers had told the people that many houses would be demolished for construction of the dam reservoir, but neither the district government nor the lawmakers were aware of any such project.
Attaur Rehman said that WAPDA contractors had begun construction work and demolished a suspension bridge connecting Jatkool with rest of Shangla.
He said that excavation work had also been started along the Indus River near their houses without taking the local people into confidence.
Locals were of the view that before their displacement from the area, they should be paid proper compensation and arrangements made for their accommodation. They added that about 30,000 people would be affected by the construction of Thakot dam.
