26 September,2026 06:39 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondent
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray (File pic)
With drought being declared in 265 talukas of Maharashtra, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday said that the state government must now focus on the implementation of relief measures and ensure that every affected farmer gets assistance.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray, who is on a tour to drought-hit areas of Marathwada, said that his party had been demanding a declaration of drought for some time and maintained that the decision should have been taken earlier, as per PTI.
The Maharashtra government on Saturday, September 26, declared 265 of the 358 talukas in the state as drought-affected, announcing relief measures, including restructuring of crop loans, concession in land revenue, and deferment of recovery of agriculture-related loans. According to a government resolution (GR) issued late on Friday, this covers 74 per cent of the state.
Most of the drought-affected talukas are in Solapur, Ahilyanagar, Nashik, Latur, Beed, Buldhana, Amravati, Yavatmal, Nagpur, and Chandrapur.
Aaditya Thackeray, while talking to the media, said, "Whether it (declaration of drought) was delayed or when it should have been declared...we had been continuously demanding that drought be declared earlier. Karnataka declared it before Maharashtra, as per PTI.
Thackeray, however, said the focus should now shift from the declaration to the implementation of relief measures.
"Now that it has been declared, the government should ensure that every farmer gets whatever assistance is provided under the complete drought relief package," he also added.
He also cautioned that the impact of the prevailing dry conditions would not remain confined to the agricultural sector alone.
"This drought, or Super El Nino is not only going to affect agriculture but urban areas as well. It will affect the entire Maharashtra and the country," the Worli MLA further added.
Thackeray called for coordinated action by the Centre and the states to address the wider impact of the situation.
"The state and the central governments should work together and focus on what plans can be announced for the country," he said.
Thackeray is undertaking a two-day tour of drought-affected areas, including Solapur, Dharashiv, Latur, Nanded, Hingoli, Parbhani, Jalna, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, to interact with farmers and assess crop losses.
He was speaking to the media after inspecting damaged crops at Khanapur village of Tuljapur tehsil in Dharashiv district.
(With inputs from PTI)
