Maharashtra declares 265 Talukas as drought-affected; opposition demands more assistance for farmers
Maharashtra government implements relief measures for 265 talukas declared drought-affected, but opposition demands higher financial aid for farmers.
The Maharashtra government has officially declared 265 Talukas across the state as drought-affected following a significant shortfall in rainfall during the Kharif 2026 season. While the administration has announced a series of relief measures, opposition leaders have slammed the decision, calling for much more substantial financial aid to support the state's struggling farming community.
Government implements Trigger-1 relief measures
According to an official notification from the Relief and Rehabilitation Department, the state has implemented "Trigger-1" (First Alert) in the affected regions. This declaration allows for the rollout of various concessions aimed at supporting farmers, farm labourers, and workers during this period of scarcity.
The government's package includes several key provisions:
- Financial Concessions: Exemptions from land revenue and a moratorium on the recovery of agriculture-related loans.
- Utility Relief: Exemptions on current electricity bills for agricultural pumps in scarcity areas.
- Education Support: Waivers on exam fees for school and college students.
- Employment and Resources: Relaxed criteria for the Employment Guarantee Scheme to maximize work opportunities, provision of water via tankers, and ensuring availability of food grains and livestock fodder.
Opposition slams "hollow" measures
Despite these announcements, opposition parties have criticized the Devendra Fadnavis government, arguing that the measures do not go far enough to address the severity of the crisis. Leaders have called for direct financial compensation rather than minor concessions.
Harshvardhan Sapkal, Maharashtra State Congress President, emphasized the need for direct aid. He argued that given the current financial distress, farmers require ₹1 lakh per hectare in assistance, along with total crop loan waivers and special support for the upcoming Rabi season. "Declaring a drought does not end the government's responsibility," Sapkal stated, noting that true sensitivity is measured by actual aid reaching the farmers.
Rohit Pawar of the NCP described the government's response as "dry" and criticized the timing, claiming the efforts arrived three weeks late. He pointed out that the current concessions, such as waiving small farm taxes or exam fees, are insufficient for the scale of the crisis. "If you are sensitive... waive crop loans; give farmers 50,000 rupees per hectare and farm labourers 25,000 rupees in aid," Pawar remarked.
Aaditya Thackeray, UBT Sena MLA, highlighted the grim reality on the ground after touring the Marathwada region. He noted that major crops like soybean and pigeon pea have withered away, leaving farmers in despair. "Declaring 75% drought in the state just on paper won't suffice," Thackeray said, stressing that real relief must reach the people directly.
Amidst the growing tension, Deputy CM Sunetra Ajit Pawar has begun visiting various drought-affected farmers to assess the situation firsthand.