Archive · 5 Sep 2026
Farmers Block Highway Seeking Papanasam Dam Water for Crops
Farmers in Thoothukudi protested because their fields were not receiving enough water.
They wanted water released from Papanasam dam in Tirunelveli district.
The water would go to the Korampallam and Pettaikulam irrigation tanks.
Farmers said about 5,000 acres of banana crops could be damaged.
They brought tractors and withered banana plants to the highway.
The road was blocked for about 30 minutes.
Police arrested more than 100 protesters and took them to a marriage hall.
One farmer fainted during the protest.
The farmers said they would continue protesting if water was not released.
MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi supported their demand and criticized the arrests.
More than 100 farmers were arrested after blocking the Thoothukudi-Tirunelveli highway on Friday.
The protesters demanded 1,500 cusecs from Papanasam dam for two Thoothukudi irrigation tanks.
Farmers said water shortages threatened banana crops across about 5,000 acres.
Protesters arrived in tractors, placed withered banana plants on the road and disrupted traffic for 30 minutes.
Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi condemned the arrests and urged immediate action to protect farmers’ livelihoods.
- Who
- More than 100 farmers from over 10 villages, the All-Farmers’ Associations Federation, police, and Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi.
- What
- Farmers blocked a highway and demanded the release of 1,500 cusecs of water from Papanasam dam.
- When
- Friday; the highway blockade lasted about 30 minutes.
- Where
- Near Thattaparai Vilakku on the Thoothukudi-Tirunelveli four-lane highway in Thoothukudi district.
- Why
- Farmers sought irrigation water for the Korampallam and Pettaikulam tanks, saying shortages threatened about 5,000 acres of banana crops.
Farmers and Supporters
Authorities’ Enforcement Response
Water release
Farmers and Supporters
Farmers demanded immediate release of 1,500 cusecs from Papanasam dam, saying the water was needed to protect banana crops and farmer livelihoods.
Authorities’ Enforcement Response
The reported authorities’ response was police deployment and the arrest of more than 100 protesters during the highway blockade.
Reason for the protest
Farmers and Supporters
Farmers said they had repeatedly petitioned officials and held protests without receiving action, forcing them to block the highway.
Authorities’ Enforcement Response
The blockade disrupted traffic on the Thoothukudi-Tirunelveli highway for about 30 minutes, prompting police intervention.
Arrests
Farmers and Supporters
Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi condemned the arrests and said officials should address the farmers’ water demand.
Authorities’ Enforcement Response
Police arrested the protesters and moved them to a private marriage hall; the article does not provide a separate explanation from the police for the arrests.
- Arrests
- More than 100 protesting farmers were arrested.
- Water demanded
- 1,500 cusecs from Papanasam dam.
- Irrigation tanks
- Korampallam and Pettaikulam tanks.
- Crops at risk
- About 5,000 acres of banana crops, according to the farmers and MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi.
- Traffic disruption
- The highway was blocked for around 30 minutes.
- Police deployment
- Police were led by Rural Assistant Superintendent of Police Anshith Nair.
- Protest response
- A farmer fainted, and those arrested were taken to a private marriage hall.