06 October,2026 11:37 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The team will assess the ground situation and submit its report to the Centre based on its findings. Representational Pic/File
The Centre has constituted a team to assess the drought situation in Maharashtra, where 265 of the state's 358 talukas have been declared drought-affected, state Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne said, reported the PTI.
The central team will visit drought-hit areas in coordination with the Maharashtra government, assess the severity of the situation and recommend relief and rehabilitation measures.
According to Bharne, the team's assessment is expected to help speed up the process of providing central assistance to farmers affected by the drought.
The state government said nearly 80 per cent of Maharashtra is under the shadow of drought, with crops suffering extensive damage because of the rainfall deficit.
Maharashtra declared drought in 265 talukas on September 26, accounting for about 74 per cent of the state's 358 talukas.
The central team's visit is expected to provide an assessment of crop losses and the wider impact of the drought on farmers and rural communities.
The team will assess the ground situation and submit its report to the Centre based on its findings.
It will make recommendations on assistance to affected farmers under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), as well as immediate relief measures and longer-term rehabilitation.
The move follows Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's submission of an interim report to the Centre seeking assistance under the NDRF.
According to the PTI, Bharne said he had raised the severity of the drought and the difficulties faced by farmers with Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan during a recent Rabi season review meeting in Delhi.
He requested that a central team be sent to Maharashtra at the earliest to assess the situation on the ground.
Chouhan assured him that the Centre would provide the necessary assistance to help farmers overcome the crisis, according to the state government's statement.
The central team will be headed by Muktanand Agrawal, Joint Secretary in the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, as per the PTI.
Representatives from 10 central government departments and agencies, including the Agriculture and Finance departments and NITI Aayog, will be part of the team, the news agency reported.
The team will examine the extent of crop damage, the severity of the drought and the requirements for immediate assistance and rehabilitation.
The development comes after Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.
Shinde said Modi held an extensive discussion on the drought situation in Maharashtra and enquired about the availability of water and fodder, as well as the extent of crop damage, reported the PTI.
Shinde said the Prime Minister assured the state of the Centre's support in dealing with the drought situation.
Bharne said the Maharashtra government would continue to pursue the matter with the Centre and make all possible efforts to support farmers affected by the drought.
The central team's assessment is likely to be a key step towards determining the scale of assistance required by Maharashtra and the relief measures needed in the affected areas.
(with PTI inputs)
