Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Maharashtra Starts Drought Relief Before Formal Crop-Loss Assessment
Some parts of Maharashtra have received much less rain than usual.
This has damaged crops and caused concern for farmers.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis says the state has already started helping people.
He says Maharashtra will use its own money instead of waiting for help from the Central government.
Officials will formally check crop damage after October 5.
These checks are called panchnamas.
The drought review will happen in three stages, including rainfall checks and field surveys.
A village may be declared drought-affected if more than 33 per cent of its crops are damaged.
Opposition leaders say the government should declare a drought immediately and give farmers more help.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Maharashtra has begun drought-relief measures without waiting for Central assistance.
Formal crop-loss assessments, or panchnamas, will be conducted after October 5 under the NDRF framework.
The revised three-stage process will examine rainfall, vegetation, sown area, soil moisture, groundwater and field-verified crop damage.
A village may qualify for drought declaration if field surveys find crop damage exceeding 33 per cent.
Opposition leaders demanded an immediate drought declaration, ₹1 lakh per hectare for affected farmers and a complete loan waiver.
- Who
- Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, state ministers and officials, Opposition parties, and affected farmers.
- What
- Maharashtra has begun drought-relief measures and will conduct a three-stage assessment before deciding on a formal drought declaration and seeking Central assistance.
- When
- The announcement was made on September 21; formal crop-loss assessments are scheduled after October 5.
- Where
- Maharashtra, India, with Solapur identified as a major concern.
- Why
- A prolonged break in rainfall has caused a widening rain shortfall, crop damage and farmer distress in parts of the state.
Opposition Demands Immediate Action
State Government Cites Assessment Process
Timing of drought declaration
Opposition Demands Immediate Action
Opposition parties want Maharashtra to declare a drought immediately because rainfall shortages and crop losses are causing farmer distress.
State Government Cites Assessment Process
The government says a formal declaration must follow the required NDRF-based procedure, including assessments after October 5.
Farmer assistance
Opposition Demands Immediate Action
Harshvardhan Sapkal demanded ₹1 lakh per hectare for affected farmers and a complete loan waiver, alleging that assistance was being delayed.
State Government Cites Assessment Process
Fadnavis says relief measures have already started and that the state will provide assistance from its own funds without waiting for Central support.
Basis for declaring drought
Opposition Demands Immediate Action
The Opposition points to worsening rainfall shortages and standing-crop damage as reasons for immediate action.
State Government Cites Assessment Process
The government says rainfall, vegetation, sown area, soil moisture, groundwater and field verification must be assessed before a decision is taken.
- Chief minister
- Devendra Fadnavis
- Immediate relief
- The state says it has begun assistance from its own funds rather than waiting for Central assistance.
- Assessment timing
- Formal crop-loss assessments, or panchnamas, will begin after October 5.
- Assessment method
- The process has three stages: mandatory indicators, indicative drought indicators, and field surveys and verification.
- Drought threshold
- A village can qualify for drought declaration if field assessment establishes crop damage exceeding 33 per cent.
- Solapur conditions
- The district was reported to have about 50 per cent less rainfall than normal, estimated crop damage of 80-85 per cent and 68 villages dependent on tanker water.
- Opposition demand
- Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal sought ₹1 lakh per hectare for affected farmers and a complete loan waiver.
