GILGIT, July 15: Villagers in remote valley of Thore in Diamer district have forcibly stopped work on Wapda staff colony in protest against ‘low compensation’ for their land.

The dwellers of the valley are not satisfied with the land compensation and accuse the district administration of changing the land status in a bid to deprive them of what they deserved.

“The district administration is treating us as if we are not the citizens of this country,” complained Khan Zeb, a member of the Thore youth committee, while talking to this reporter.

He said half of the valley would be overtaken by the Wapda staff colony while the other half would be swallowed up by the Diamer-Bhasha Dam.

The Thore youth committee has been leading the protests for quite some time by blocking roads and holding protest demonstrations to push for increase in the compensation amount but the concerned authorities are unmoved.

The chief minister has also formed a committee to probe the land compensation award.

When contacted the Deputy Commissioner of Diamer Shazeb Saeed claimed few blackmailers wanted to have the status of their lands changed from barren to cultivable to get extra favours. He said if the villagers didn’t allow resumption of work on the colony, force would be used to clear all the obstacles.

He said the work on preparation of land award was done in a very careful manner and there was not the slightest chance of mistake or mala fide intentions.