Maharashtra drought: Technical criteria won't prevent affected farmers from receiving aid, says CM Fadnavis

In a major move to mitigate the severe droughtlike conditions across Maharashtra the State Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday announced that technical criteria will not prevent affected farmers from receiving government assistance news agency IANS reportedAddressing a press conference following the Cabinet meeting CM Fadnavis said that the state will conduct onground physical inspections in talukas where crops have withered but failed to meet standard automated triggers due to unusual weather patterns 246pm 2992026MumbaiLIVE Media InteractionMaharashtra Mumbai httpstcoeSXvOtzFLkmdash Devendra Fadnavis Dev_Fadnavis September 29 2026Farmers in these areas will now be granted full drought relief benefits as a special exemption CM Fadnavis saidThe decisions are expected to provide immediate financial and administrative relief to thousands of farmers who were initially left out of the states drought declaration due to automated criteriaSpecific guidelines detailing the distribution of financial aid and resources for these newly included regions are expected to be released in the coming days informed the Maharashtra CMAddressing an unusual weather cyclemdashmarked by heavy rainfall during the initial two months followed by a total dry spellmdashthe government noted that standard Trigger 1 parameters were not met in several areasPhysical crop damage assessments will now be conducted on the ground to ensure no affected farmer is left out said the CMHe added that a dedicated drought mitigation subcommittee will meet regularly with ministers directed to submit local proposals and feedback without delayFor districts excluded from the initial droughthit list officials have been instructed to apply alternate parameters and submit fresh relief proposals informed the CMMaharashtra to prioritise drinking water livestock needsAccording to CM Fadnavis the state will issue a transparent Government Resolution GR prioritising water usage explicitly factoring in livestock water needs alongside drinking water before allocating supplies for other purposesDistrict Planning and Development Committees DPDC have been mandated to allocate maximum resources towards drought mitigation work Guardian Ministers have been advised to take creative localised actionIn a direct relief measure for families in affected regions Class 10 SSC and Class 12 HSC students will have their examination fees completely waived upfront replacing the previous mechanism of fee collection and reimbursement he saidMaharashtra declares drought in 265 talukasThe CMs announcement comes days after the Maharashtra government through the Relief and Rehabilitation Department on Saturday issued a Government Resolution declaring official drought conditions in 265 talukas of the total 358 talukas across the state following deficient monsoon rainfall during the 2026 Kharif seasonThe move follows the implementation of Trigger1 guidelines under the Drought Management Code 2016 and a report submitted by the Commissioner of AgricultureDistrict Collectors have been instructed to immediately initiate field assessments of crop loss across affected regions The administration must collect geotagged photos with GPS coordinates of damaged farmlands and submit a comprehensive crop assessment report to the government through the Agriculture Commissioner12point relief package for droughthit talukasTo support farmers agricultural labourers and affected rural populations the state government has extended a 12point relief and concessions package for the designated 265 talukasThe government has announced full waiver of land revenue for affected farmers restructuring of existing agricultural loans immediate stay on the recovery of all agriculturerelated bank loans exemptionconcessions on current electricity bills for agricultural pumps above 75 HP capacity up to 75 HP is already waived waiver of examination fees for school and college students in the affected zones relaxation of work norm criteria under the VBG RAM G to maximise employment generation and deployment of water tankers wherever drinking water shortages occurFurther the government has issued strict orders preventing the disconnection of agricultural pump power supplies in declared scarcity villages implementation of targeted distribution systems to prevent food grain shortages for farmers and dailywage agricultural workers measures to ensure adequate supply and availability of fodder for cattle immediate rollout of water conservation works in the affected belts and comprehensive planning for drinking and livestock water resources in accordance with government directivesWith IANS inputs