SWABI: The authorities have banned the entry of Afghans and people from the tribal areas into the premises of Tarbela Dam and Ghazi Barotha Hydropower project and residential colonies of the employees.

Official sources told Dawn on Saturday that authorities of the two dams had taken fresh steps to boost security at the two projects following the militant attack on Army Public School, Peshawar.

They said that Afghan nationals, who have been living in various parts of Topi tehsil for the last many years, would not be allowed to enter into the areas of two projects and the residential colonies.

“The Afghans could not cross the Tarbela Dam boundary,” said a police official, adding that they would strictly implement the orders in this regard.

The sources said that people belonging to tribal regions were also not allowed to enter Tarbela Dam areas.

“I belong to the tribal belt and our truck loaded with cement would be unloaded at the fourth extension project within next few hours. I am waiting for return of our vehicle,” said a cleaner, who was not allowed to enter with his vehicle.

Sources said that security had been tightened at the gates and other major points and the Wapda security personnel had been asked that no negligence in this connection would be tolerated.

The sources said that shopkeepers at the Tarbela Dam markets had also been directed to follow the security measures.

They said that the shopkeepers were called to the Topi police station where data of each of them was noted. They said that the district police had been acquiring complete record of all the employees living in various residential colonies.

They said that only the auto-rickshaws owned by employees of the residential colonies could enter the area.

Auto-rickshaw drivers of Topi tehsil told this correspondent that the ban had badly affected their livelihood.

The sources said that the district police were fully supporting the security measures adopted by the dam authorities.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2015

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