Those who lost land for the Yermarus Thermal Power Station (YTPS) project and who are on an indefinite dharna under the banner Bhoosantrasthara Kshermabhivrudhi Sangha demanding jobs staged a semi-nude protest as their dharna entered the fourth day here on Thursday.
Hundreds of land losers from Eganur, Kadlur, Vadlur, Kukanur, Chikkasugur and Yermarus, who are demanding jobs in YTPS, launched their indefinite dharna on Monday.
However, none from either YTPS or the district administration has come to the dharna venue and issued assurances to them.
The YTPS, which has come up on 1,126 acres of land at about 19 kilometres from Raichur, aims to generate 1,600 MW power from its two units every day.
Raghavendra, a protester, told The Hindu over phone that he and the other protesters have no hopes of getting jobs in YTPS, as they had been promised. However, they won’t withdraw the dharna until their demand is met.
“What is wrong in us asking jobs, as we have lost our fertile land to the project. It was the duty of the government, which acquired the land, to provide jobs based on our educational qualifications, instead of forcing us to hold the dharna,” he said.
Meanwhile, the protesters are themselves preparing food at the venue.
“We are collecting foodgrains from locals, as none of us have even visited our homes for the last four days,” said another protester.
The protesters are singing bhajans during the night, he added.
