Maharashtra Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Vijay Wadettiwar on Saturday said approximately 17 lakh hectares of farm land have been affected by excessive rains and floods this year, which could be a record for the past 50 years, and the state government was taking all necessary steps to provide relief to those affected.

Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, he said the 17 lakh hectares that have been affected are spread over Marathwada, north Maharashtra, Konkan and a few districts of Vidarbha.