'We are guarding water in the canal to stop anyone from diverting water to their fields,' said Sanjay Yadav, a farmer in a village near Paliganj.

Yadav said canals have little water and the water level is much below normal this year due to scanty rainfall. 'Until 10 days ago, the canal was drying, the government released water only a few days ago,' he said.

According to official sources, out of 7.94 million hectares of land under cultivation, only 4.56 million hectares are irrigated. Experts said only 20 percent of canal systems were functioning across the state.

Last week 26 of Bihar's 38 districts were declared drought-hit in view of the scanty rainfall so far that has hit paddy seedling transplantation. However, thousands of drought-stricken farmers got relief with widespread rainfall across the state in the last four days.

Bihar has recorded a 38 percent rainfall deficit so far this monsoon season, hitting the transplanting of paddy seedlings. The state had targeted sowing of paddy in over 8.77 million acres this year, but the crop has only been planted over 3.83 million acres so far.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said the rice and maize output in the state may be 75 percent less than average this year because of poor monsoon rains.

In his letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Kumar sought an assistance of Rs.230.71 billion to meet the financial burden caused by the 'unprecedented drought' situation in the state.

The drought has affected around 12.6 million families in 26 districts with paddy coverage showing an overall shortfall of 57 percent.