Archive · 12 Oct 2026
Water Shortage Destroys Samba Paddy as Thanjavur Farmers Seek Compensation
Farmers in parts of Thanjavur district say their paddy fields have dried out because they did not get enough irrigation water.
They say water from the Mettur reservoir came after a long gap.
The groundwater they tried to use was too salty for their crops.
Some farmers are now ploughing the damaged plants back into the soil.
They say this means losing the season’s crop and spending more to prepare their fields again.
The farmers want officials to visit and record how much has been damaged.
They are also asking for compensation.
They say they may blockade the District Collector’s office if officials do not respond.
Farmers near Melattur in Thanjavur district are ploughing withered samba paddy crops back into the soil.
About 1,000 acres are under samba cultivation in Ranganathapuram and nearby areas; protesters say thousands of acres across the wider area have been damaged.
Farmers attribute the irrigation shortage to inadequate Mettur reservoir storage and say dam water was released after an 81-day interval.
They say saline groundwater drawn by pump sets was unsuitable for irrigating their crops.
Protesters are seeking an official damage assessment and compensation, and warn they may blockade the District Collector’s office.
- Who
- Samba paddy farmers in and around Melattur and Ranganathapuram.
- What
- Farmers are ploughing damaged crops back into the soil and demanding an official assessment and compensation.
- When
- The article does not specify a date; farmers say Mettur dam water was released after an 81-day interval.
- Where
- Melattur, Ranganathapuram and surrounding areas in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu.
- Why
- Farmers say inadequate irrigation and saline groundwater left their paddy crops without usable water.
- Crop
- Samba paddy
- Area under cultivation
- Around 1,000 acres in Ranganathapuram and neighbouring areas near Melattur
- Reported water-release interval
- Farmers say water was released from Mettur dam after an 81-day interval
- Groundwater concern
- Farmers say pump-set water was saline and unsuitable for irrigation
- Farmers’ demands
- Official field inspections, recording of crop losses and appropriate compensation
- Proposed action
- Farmers warned they would blockade the District Collector’s office if their demands were not addressed