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All Central teams scheduled to assess moisture levels in newly harvested paddy across the Cauvery delta abruptly cancelled their inspections on Saturday, leaving farmers at direct procurement centres in Thanjavur, Mayiladuthurai, Tiruchi and Pudukkottai stranded and frustrated. The exercise, organised to advise whether the standard 17% procurement moisture limit should be relaxed after persistent rain, had been widely publicised and prompted local TNCSC staff to prepare collection centres. Growers assembled at Vannarapettai, Ponnappur, and Raramuthirakottai in Thanjavur from first light, but by mid-morning there was no sign of visiting officials, and many returned home disappointed. When The Hindu contacted two members of the Central delegation, they declined to disclose reasons for the cancellations and said they had other work to attend to. Both said they were unsure whether inspections planned for the following day would proceed and were awaiting instructions from the Union government on the next course of action. P. R. Pandian, general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Cauvery Delta Farmers Association, demanded a clear explanation from the State authorities, saying farmers who had brought produce in good faith, needed assurance on procurement norms and timelines.
