Maharashtra CM Fadnavis forms Cabinet Sub-Committee to tackle drought-like conditions in parts of state

Amid the concerning droughtlike situation in parts of state Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday September 22 announced the establishment of a Cabinet SubCommitteeCM Fadnavis said that the committee will be chaired by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule who will oversee and implement measures addressing droughtlike conditions in several parts of Maharashtra as cited by IANSSpeaking to the media after chairing the weekly cabinet meeting CM Fadnavis said ldquoThe state government would extend immediate assistance to affected farmers without waiting for financial aid from the Central GovernmentrdquoFadnavis also added that a preliminary notification declaring droughtlike conditions would be officially released by SaturdayCabinet SubCommittee vested with full cabinet powersDuring the meeting ministers reviewed rainfall data reservoir water levels and the overall agricultural situation across the stateThe Maharashtra Chief Minister further noted that primary data collection regarding the drought situation was already underway To facilitate swift decisionmaking the newly formed Cabinet SubCommittee has been vested with full cabinet powersThe panel chaired by Maharashtra Minister Bawankule will determine relief packages and measures based on statewide field dataMoreover official crop damage assessments panchnamas are directed to begin tomorrowMajor crops including soybean maize and cotton have suffered extensive damage while paddy fields in the Konkan region have also been severely impactedMaharashtra CM to inspect droughtaffected regionsFadnavis also said that he would personally begin inspecting affected areas starting tomorrow and directed ministers and elected representatives to visit the ground to assess the damage as per IANS He also added that the state would submit a formal proposal for relief funds based on NDRF norms to the Central GovernmentSpecial focus will be placed on drinking water supplies and livestock fodder over the next seven to eight months coordinated through municipal corporations municipal councils and local selfgovernment bodiesFadnavis further concluded that ministers would begin touring droughtaffected regions from tomorrow the Cabinet SubCommittee had been granted full authority to make immediate relief decisionsAs per IANS the committee will also oversee some key issues such as the crop damage assessments that will start statewideCM also promised that priority allocation for drinking water and fodder supply would begin immediately without waiting for central assistanceThe subcommittee chaired by Bawankule includes Girish Mahajan Minister for Water Resources and Disaster Management Gulabrao Patil Minister for Water Supply and Sanitation Sanjay Rathod Minister for Soil and Water Conservation Pankaja Munde Minister for Animal Husbandry Dattatray Bharne Minister for Agriculture Jaykumar Gore Minister for Rural Development Pratap Sarnaik Minister for Transport Babasaheb Patil Minister for Cooperation and Makarand Jadhav Patil Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation Rajesh Agarwal Chief SecretaryWith inputs from IANS