Maharashtra Drought Relief: Farmers May Get Financial Aid Before Diwali

Key Highlights

• Maharashtra targets financial assistance for drought-hit farmers before Diwali.

• Drought has been declared in 265 of the state's 358 talukas.

• Around 45% of crop damage assessment work has been completed.

• A central team may soon inspect drought-affected regions.

• The government plans fodder depots, fodder banks and measures to ease farmers' financial burden.

The Maharashtra government has accelerated efforts to provide financial assistance to farmers affected by drought, with a target of distributing relief funds before Diwali. The state government is speeding up crop damage assessments and the completion of panchnama (field inspection and damage verification) work to ensure that eligible farmers receive assistance as early as possible.

Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has directed officials to complete the pending assessments without delay. According to the minister, around 45% of the crop damage assessment work has been completed across the state, while the remaining work is being expedited.

A review meeting held in Mumbai discussed several drought-related concerns, including crop losses, water availability, relief measures for farmers and fodder supplies for livestock. The government is working on multiple measures to support affected farming families and reduce the impact of the ongoing drought.

Central Team May Visit Maharashtra's Drought-Hit Areas Soon

A central government team is expected to visit drought-affected areas of Maharashtra within the next one or two days, according to Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule. Three teams may be formed to assess the situation in different regions.

The proposed teams may visit Beed and Dharashiv, Yavatmal and Washim, and Ahilyanagar and Solapur. They will examine crop damage and the severity of drought conditions in these areas. Their assessments are expected to support further decisions on relief measures and speed up the process of providing assistance to affected farmers.

Drought Declared in 265 Talukas Across Maharashtra

On September 26, the Maharashtra government declared drought in 265 of the state's 358 talukas, covering approximately 74% of all talukas in the state.

The drought declaration covers several districts across Maharashtra. The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division has the highest number of drought-affected talukas, followed by Amravati, Nashik, Nagpur and Pune.

The division-wise distribution is as follows:

• Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: 74 talukas

• Amravati: 56 talukas

• Nashik: 49 talukas

• Nagpur: 39 talukas

• Pune: 35 talukas

• Thane division: 12 talukas, including one in Raigad, three in Ratnagiri and eight in Sindhudurg

To reduce the financial burden on farmers, the government has announced several relief measures, including crop loan restructuring, concessions on land revenue and subsidies on electricity bills.

Government Restricts Drinking Water Use in Construction

With water resources under pressure due to drought, the Maharashtra government has also stepped up water conservation efforts.

During the review meeting, officials decided to prohibit the use of potable drinking water and treated drinking water supplies for construction projects. According to the Revenue Minister, construction activities will instead use treated wastewater from sewage treatment plants.

The measure aims to conserve drinking water and ensure that available supplies can be prioritised for essential needs in drought-affected areas.

Banks Warned Against Harassing Farmers for Loan Recovery

The government has also taken up complaints about loan recovery practices affecting farmers during the drought.

Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule directed banks not to unnecessarily trouble farmers who have already taken crop loans by repeatedly demanding documents. He also warned that action could be taken against nationalised banks, private banks and private moneylenders if they pressure farmers to repay loans during the drought.

The move is intended to reduce the immediate financial pressure on affected farmers while they deal with crop losses and uncertain agricultural incomes.

Heir Records and KYC to Be Completed at Village Level

The Maharashtra government plans to complete village-level heir records and Know Your Customer (KYC) formalities to help eligible farmers access loan waiver schemes and other relief benefits.

The government has also clarified that farmers who are not registered on the Agristack platform will be included in relief efforts. In addition, steps will be taken to connect Class-II landholders with Agristack so that eligible beneficiaries are not left out of the assistance process.

Completing these records and verification formalities at the village level is expected to make it easier to identify eligible farmers and process their claims.

Fodder Depots and Fodder Banks Planned for Livestock

Drought conditions have also raised concerns about the availability of fodder for cattle and other livestock. To address this issue, the state government is exploring alternatives to depending entirely on fodder camps.

One proposal is to establish fodder depots through gram panchayats to improve the local availability of animal feed. The government is also planning to develop fodder banks using forest land, fallow land and grasslands on government land near water sources.

In another measure, the government plans to collect paddy straw from the Vidarbha and Konkan regions and use it to prepare animal feed. These initiatives are intended to improve fodder supplies and help livestock owners in drought-affected areas manage the shortage.

Maharashtra Government Targets Financial Assistance Before Diwali

The immediate priority for the Maharashtra government is to complete the remaining crop damage assessments and panchnama work as quickly as possible. With approximately 45% of the assessment process completed, officials have been instructed to speed up the remaining work.

The government aims to provide financial assistance to eligible drought-affected farmers before Diwali. Alongside monetary relief, measures such as crop loan restructuring, land revenue concessions, electricity bill subsidies, protection from unnecessary loan recovery pressure and improved fodder availability are intended to address the wider impact of drought.

The final timing and amount of assistance for individual farmers will depend on the completion of assessments and the applicable relief process.

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CMV360 Says

Maharashtra is accelerating drought relief efforts, aiming to provide financial assistance to eligible farmers before Diwali. With drought declared in 265 talukas, the government is expediting crop damage assessments and preparing for a central team's visit. Measures covering crop loans, electricity bills, land revenue, drinking water conservation and livestock fodder are also planned. Completing the remaining verification work will be important to ensure that affected farmers receive timely support.