Maharashtra Set to Declare 100% Drought by Month-End, Says Minister
Maharashtra will declare a 100% drought by end-September, Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil said, citing severe crop losses and a prolonged dry spell.
Maharashtra is set to declare a 100% drought across the State by the end of September, Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil said on Monday, describing the current dry spell as the most severe he has witnessed.
Speaking on the scale of the damage, Mr. Patil said crops including soyabean, cotton and sugarcane had all been hit, with losses running high. The declaration, he indicated, would follow the norms of the National Disaster Response Fund.
His remarks mark the first time a member of the State cabinet has publicly spoken of a full drought declaration. Until now, the government's stated position had been that crop damage surveys and ground verification would be taken up after October 5.
Large parts of Maharashtra have gone without rain for an extended period, leaving farmers to absorb heavy crop losses. Data from the State Agriculture Department shows no rainfall for more than 20 days in at least 83 talukas spread across 20 districts. Six districts, among them Amravati, Solapur and Latur, have recorded a rainfall deficit of 40-50%. Water tankers have begun operating in villages such as Naichakur in Dharashiv district.
Relief measures already under way include a fee waiver for students, waiver of electricity bills and the deployment of water tankers, the Minister said.
Push to revive water sources
Rather than relying on tankers as the first option, the State government has directed district administrations to revive existing water sources and build supply networks in villages facing shortages.
A circular issued by the State Soil and Water Conservation Department on September 16 said the Groundwater Surveys and Development Agency would identify villages with drinking water shortages and forward the list to District Collectorates by October. Collectors are to draw up intervention plans for these villages for October to December, with submissions due by November 15. Plans for January-March 2027 are to follow by December 20, and for April-June 2027 by January 20.
Separately, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Monday that the government would not wait for Central assistance to help farmers in distress over inadequate rainfall. A formal crop loss assessment would be carried out after October 5 as required under the rules, after which the State would seek assistance from the Centre, he told reporters.