Farmers allege that the groundwater in certain hamlets in Budalur taluk, Thanjavur district, has turned saline.Participating in the monthly agriculture grievance meeting chaired by the District Revenue Officer T. Thiyagarajan at the Collectorate on February 26, farmers from Budalur taluk said that several acres of agricultural fields at Royanthur, Chithayal, Veerapudaiyanpatti, Vellamperambur, and nearby areas were turning unfit for cultivation as the water sourced from deep borewells using pumpsets for irrigation had higher pH factor.Claiming that several people in these hamlets suffer from kidney related problems as deep borewells serve as drinking water source, they urged the district administration to constitute an expert committee to look into this issue and sought introduction of the paddy variety that could be cultivated on alkaline soil.Procurement normsWith respect to procurement of samba paddy, farmers pointed out that they were unable to measure their produce at the direct purchase centres (DPC) as the staff insist on ‘adangal’ certificate.Stating that they were unable to get the document in view of the ongoing strike by the Revenue Department employees, they sought an early solution to this issue.They insisted that farmers hailing from Paachur, Ayyampatti, Karuppapatti, Chellampatti, and others located in Orathanadu taluk but having their agriculture fields in Pudukottai district along the border of Thanjavur-Pudukottai district, should be permitted to measure their produce at the DPCs located in their native villages. Published - February 26, 2026 05:28 pm IST