SWABI, June 10: Increase in the level of Ghazi Barotha Hydro-power reservoir has raised the underground water level at the Tarbela Dam Colony, forcing many residents to leave their houses.

Local farmers fear rise in the water reservoir level would become dangerous for the agriculture land and periphery villages once the project starts functioning.

The farmers said the sunflower and vegetable crops had been affected by the raise in underground water level. They said the land had become damp at many places and now the situation was such that they even could not plough their fields.

The area people said that due consideration was not given to the suburbs, otherwise increase in the underground water level in the surrounding areas could have been averted.

The project has already generated concern among the higher authorities for irregularities committed in land acquisition and arrest of a number of people in this regard by an accountability court.

With the passage of time, they fear, the water level would definitely increase when the project goes into operation in the autumn of 2004.

The project would generate 1450mw electricity through 290mw generators or units.

The residents said none of the officials either from the Ghazi Barotha construction firm or the Tarbela dam project had bothered to visit the area and order remedial measures.