Maharashtra drought: Shinde promises compensation as crop losses mount

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday assured farmers that the state government would provide assistance amid drought-like conditions and crop losses caused by deficient rainfall in several parts of the state.

Speaking to reporters in his native Dare village during the Ganesh festival, Shinde acknowledged that standing crops had been damaged and said the government would not leave farmers without support.

“Be it drought or excessive rain, the government will stand solidly with farmers. Government will compensate the farmers. They will not be left in the lurch,” Shinde said.

He said Vidarbha and particularly Marathwada had experienced inadequate rainfall. Shinde added that he had spoken to Dharashiv guardian minister Pratap Sarnaik and MP Om Raje Nimbalkar about the situation. Crop-loss panchnamas, or field-level assessments, are scheduled to begin from October 5.

The move comes amid growing concerns over the state's rainfall deficit. As of September 16, 20 of Maharashtra's 36 districts had recorded rainfall deficits of at least 20%, while several areas had gone more than 30 consecutive days without rain, according to a state Cabinet presentation.

Maharashtra had recorded a 17.5% rainfall deficit till September 14, with the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division in Marathwada registering a 31.4% shortfall. Vidarbha and other regions have also reported below-average rainfall.

The issue has also triggered political demands for a formal drought declaration. NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Friday urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to declare drought in severely affected talukas and sought financial assistance of at least Rs 50,000 per hectare for farmers facing crop losses.

Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray criticised the state government's handling of the situation and questioned why crop-loss assessments would begin only from October 5. Responding to the criticism without naming Thackeray, Shinde said those who wanted to criticise could do so, but his government would respond through its work.

Meanwhile, the state administration has been directed to prepare for drought-related assessments from October 5 under National Disaster Response Fund norms.

with inputs from PTI