JOGULAMBA GADWAL, OCT.24 : : In a tragic incident highlighting the severe irrigation crisis in tail-end areas, a farmer set fire to his standing paddy crop spread across 20 acres in Mandoddi village of Rajoli mandal on Saturday (October 24, 2026). The farmer took the extreme step after his crop withered completely due to a lack of water supply, despite being located near the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS) canal network.
The farmer, identified as Uppari Venkatesu from Alampur constituency, had invested nearly ₹6 lakh and months of labor into cultivating paddy on 20 acres. The crop was nearing harvest and was expected to yield a full crop within a few days. However, the fields dried up rapidly as canal water failed to reach the tail-end agricultural lands. Unable to watch his hard-earned investment go to waste, Venkatesu set his fields ablaze despite attempts by fellow farmers to restrain him.
In a video recorded at the scene that widely circulated on social media, Venkatesu expressed his anguish and blamed irrigation authorities for failing to release water. He stated that despite appealing repeatedly to officials over the past 15 days, no action was taken to secure the required water flow from the RDS canal system. Left with no chance to recover his heavy financial investment, he set fire to the fields in despair.
Local farmers pointed out that the failure of authorities to secure the designated share of water from the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme has left large agricultural tracts in the region dry. They urged the government to intervene immediately and provide financial compensation to the affected farmer.
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