MURREE, Aug 20: Several hamlets situated along the under- construction Islamabad-Murree dual carriageway are under threat from road development and unchecked dumping of silt by the contractor, locals complained on Saturday.

The affected people told this correspondent that the contractor was discarding silt along the slopes after cutting through rock to lay the road.

Islamabad Murree dual carriageway project, which was approved by the Nawaz Sharif government in 1999, had to be completed in 22 months, but was still being undertaken after more than eight years with almost double amount spent on it so far.

Heavy rain causes the silt to roll down towards inhabited areas, damaging the houses and rendering the otherwise fertile land unusable to grow crops.

Around 60 families in lower Mughalabad had been affected in the recent downpours as their houses were in the range of mudslides. Even the local mosque of Grotian was damaged in similar circumstances.

Other areas facing similar situation include Dhoke Sohawa and lands located along Jhika Gali road and Gulerragali- Rawalpindi road.

People also said that the silt deposited across vast area had also disturbed seasonal watercourses, leading to erosion and landslides.