Villagers in Rugdi are yet to receive compensation for the crop destroyed to build a helipad for the Prime Minister?s earlier visit. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Rugdi (Seraikela-Kharsawan), Feb. 1: The news of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh coming to Jamshedpur on Friday was not too welcome for the residents of Rugdi.

Singh?s visit to this tribal-dominated village, where he was to lay the foundation stone of a check dam in October last year, was cancelled for security reasons. His visit to Tata Steel to attend the function for PM?s trophy was also cancelled.

The villagers? anger has been fuelled by the crop lost during preparations for the Prime Minister?s visit and non-payment of compensation. At a hurriedly called meeting attended by over 25 villagers this afternoon, the villagers expressed their displeasure over the neglect.

They have decided to take up the crop compensation issue with the Prime Minister during his visit to the steel city. ?Manmohan Singh does not have time to visit our village and lay the foundation stone for the check dam that would have provided irrigation facility to at least four villages of the area. But he has readily agreed come when it?s time to plead for votes,? said the villagers. They said about two acres of agricultural land was taken over by the district administration for constructing the stage and helipad for the Prime Minister?s visit.

The villagers, who had lost their crop for the construction of the stage and helipad, were the most angry over the PM?s visit to the steel city for campaign. Mantu Mahato, a villager, said, ?The Prime Minister is no different from the local leaders, who come when the need arises. He has decided to visit Jamshedpur to request the electorate for votes forgetting the needs of the villagers. We not only lost our standing crop, but also chance of getting a check dam.?

They had not been given any compensation for the crop loss. ?The best way to get adequate compensation for our lost crop is to meet Manmohan Singh,? they said.

?The administration also failed to provide any assistance to the villagers to remove the concrete stage and helipad so that the land can be used for agriculture once again,? said Narendra Nath Mahato. The villagers decided that a delegation will go to the steel city during Manmohan Singh?s visit and submit a memorandum demanding adequate compensation for the farmers who lost their crop in preparation for his visit last year.