Overview
- Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday created a Bawankule‑led Cabinet sub‑committee with Chief Secretary Rajesh Agarwal as member‑secretary to take rapid, Cabinet‑level decisions on drought relief.
- The government ordered panchnamas, or field crop damage surveys, to begin on Wednesday and pledged a preliminary drought notification by Saturday based on initial field reports.
- Maharashtra will start state‑funded assistance immediately while preparing a formal proposal to seek central aid under NDRF rules, but full, quantified cash packages will follow completed crop assessments.
- Officials were told to prioritise drinking water and livestock fodder and to plan for seven to eight months of pressure on water supplies as ministers prepare visits to hard‑hit districts such as Latur, Dharashiv and Solapur.
- State data show widespread shortfalls with 17 of 36 districts below 75% of expected rainfall as of September 21 and damage reported to soybean, maize, cotton and paddy; panchnamas will determine the relief amounts and the basis for any central support.