Maharashtra: CM Fadnavis announces 12 measures for drought-hit areas across the state

The Maharashtra government has declared 265 talukas across the state as droughtaffected The Chief Minister CM has also announced a package of 12 measures and concessions aimed at providing relief to farmers agricultural labourers students livestock owners and other citizens facing the impact of deficient rainfallCM Fadnavis said that farmers agricultural labourers and other vulnerable sections would remain at the centre of the governments droughtrelief effortsCM orders to begin Panchnamas to assess the situationFadnavis also directed district collectors of the droughtaffected districts to immediately begin conducting panchnamas to assess the ground situation in the affected talukasThis decision was taken after the State Agriculture Commissioner reviewed the Kharif 2026 season and reported drought conditions in 265 talukas The assessment will be carried out under Trigger1 of the Drought Management Code 2016 based on rainfall deficiency and other factors from June 2026 until nowDuring the survey officials will record the condition of crops through photographs and GPS coordinates The government has directed the Revenue Department Agriculture Department and other concerned agencies to coordinate the exercise and prioritise the assessment of farmers lossesCM Fadnavisled Maharashtra Government announces 12 measures for droughthit areasThe relief measures announced by the government are listed belowExemption from land revenueRestructuring of crop loansA moratorium on recovery of agriculturerelated loansExemption from current electricity bills for agricultural pumps The government has already waived electricity bills for pumps up to 75 horsepower while the new exemption will cover pumps above that capacityExemption from examination fees for school and college studentsRelaxation in work norms under the Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme ROHYO and commencement of maximum possible worksDeployment of tankers for drinking water wherever necessaryNo disconnection of electricity supply to agricultural pumps in villages declared droughtaffectedAdequate foodgrain supplies for farmers and agricultural labourers dependent on agricultureMeasures to prevent drinking water shortagesArrangements for adequate fodder for livestockImplementation of water conservation works and planning for drinking water and livestock water requirementsMaharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis recently visited droughtaffected areas and interacted with farmers to assess the situation The government said the decision to declare drought in the 265 talukas followed this review and the Agriculture Commissioners assessmentDeputy CM Ekanth Shinde says We firmly stand with farmers of MaharashtraEknath Shinde while expressing support to the farmers across Maharashtra said Mahayuti government has stood firmly by the side of farmers in every time of crisis Even now while assuring that farmers will remain our priority in the drought situation we are keeping our promise and will not let farmers have a black Diwali saying that we have declared a drought in 265 talukas and announced measures and special concessions for itShinde further added for the last two to three days along with the Chief Minister we have been visiting the dams of the cooperative farmers in the cabinet and understanding their problems A detailed review of the situation in the state was conducted by the officials of the Agriculture and Revenue Departments Yesterday I also discussed this with Chief Minister Devendra FadnavisAgriculture Minister Dattatray Bharane Aid must reach farmersAgriculture Minister Dattatray Bharane said the decision covered 265 of the statersquos 358 talukas for Kharif 2026 after Trigger 1 was applied and that relief under the Drought Management Code would now be implemented thereldquoIt is extremely painful to see a standing crop slip away before a farmerrsquos eyes That is why the aid must actually reach the farmerrdquo Bharane said He thanked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar for taking the decision in farmersrsquo interestBharane directed officials to complete croploss panchnamas accurately and transparently carry out cropcutting experiments on a priority basis and ensure that farmers get the benefit of crop insurance and other government schemes265 talukas across six revenue divisionsThe 265 talukas where Trigger1 has been implemented are spread across six revenue divisionsThe Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division has the highest number with 74 talukas followed by Amravati with 56 Nashik with 49 Nagpur with 39 Pune with 35 and Thane with 12The 12 talukas under the Thane revenue division include Shrivardhan in Raigad Ratnagiri Sangameshwar and Rajapur in Ratnagiri and Sawantwadi Dodamarg Kankavali Kudal Vaibhavwadi Malvan Devgad and Vengurla in Sindhudurg No taluka from the Thane or Palghar districts has been includedThe Nashik division covers 49 talukas across Nashik Dhule Jalgaon Nandurbar and Ahilyanagar districts while 35 talukas in Pune Solapur Sangli Satara and Kolhapur districts are covered under the Pune divisionThe Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division includes 74 talukas from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Jalna Beed Latur Dharashiv Nanded Parbhani and Hingoli districtsThe Amravati division covers 56 talukas in Buldhana Amravati Akola Washim and Yavatmal districts The Nagpur division includes 39 talukas across Wardha Nagpur Bhandara Gondia Chandrapur and Gadchiroli districtsSeparate decision on crop damage assistanceWhile issuing a statement the government said that the financial assistance for crop damage will be announced through a separate government resolution after the prescribed assessment process is completedThe administration has therefore been instructed to give priority to conducting panchnamas and accurately documenting crop conditions in the affected areasThe government said the droughtrelief measures are intended to ensure timely support for farmers students agricultural labourers livestock and the wider population affected by the drought situationBharane also said direct help for crop loss would be declared only after the prescribed procedure was completed and asked district administrations to treat panchnamas cropcondition photographs and GPS registration as urgent