Over 500 people, displaced by Damodar Valley Corporation around five decades ago, began an indefinite fast in Baliapur block, Dhanbad, on Monday, demanding compensation for genuine victims.

The villagers assembled at Simpathar, one of the 240 villages spread across four districts - Dhanbad and Jamtara of Jharkhand; Burdwan and Purulia of Bengal - which were affected by the project, as a part of a series of protests in support of their demands. The majority of protesters were from villages located on the bank of river Damodar in Dhanbad and Jamtara districts.

Protesting under the banner of Ghatwar Adivasi Mahasabha, they shouted slogans against DVC and announced their decision to continue the fast till they get justice.

Mahasabha patron Ramashray Singh alleged altogether 15,000 families had lost their land, out of which only 500 had received compensation from the PSU. "Around 38,000 acres was acquired for the project from 15,000 land owners. Around 5,000 of them had also lost their homes. Instead of the original land losers, DVC provided compensation and jobs to around 9,000 impostors," he claimed.

DVC PRO M. Vijay Kumar rejected the villagers' allegations. "The allegation regarding non-payment of compensation is false. We have paid compensation to all land losers. They are resorting to such gimmicks after loosing a legal battle against us in Calcutta High Court and Supreme Court," he claimed.