Standing paddy crops on about 1,000 acres in the tail-end delta region of Cuddalore district, including Chidambaram, Kattumannarkoil, Keerapalayam and Bhuvanagiri, remain submerged following incessant rain in the past four days.
Farmers are worried that once the depression in the Bay of Bengal moves away, the north east monsoon would set in and the crops might suffer further.
The level of submergence of the standing crops is substantial at Poolamedu, Sivayam, Kaattukoodalur, Old Kollidam, Radha Vilagam and South Pichavaramn.
The farmers complain that rainwater stagnates in the fields owing to the lack of proper drainage facility.
The Tamil Nadu Vivasaya Sangam leaders, including MLA K.Balakrishnan and Chidambaram block president Jahir Hussain, inspected the fields on Monday.
Mr Balakrishnan told The Hindu that the Sangam had been urging the authorities for the past three years to put in place a proper drainage mechanism, but in vain.
Water level at the Veeranam tank rose to 46 ft as on Monday against the full capacity of 47.5 ft. Water level in tanks, lakes and wells in Cuddalore and Villupuram districts is fast rising. The low-lying areas and habitations located close to the water sources have been inundated.
The salt pans in Marakkanam are also submerged. Fishermen of both the districts kept off the sea for the fourth day in a row.
