Overview
- NCP-SP leader Sharad Pawar uploaded a letter on X on Friday pressing Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to declare drought now and to deliver a nine-point relief package for farmers and landless labourers.
- Pawar called for cash assistance of at least Rs 50,000 per hectare, Rs 25,000 per landless household, an immediate farm-loan waiver, retrospective low‑cost crop insurance and release of earlier compensation.
- Maharashtra officials say 83 talukas in 19 districts have gone 20 days or more without rain and reported heavy damage to soybean, cotton, bajra, maize and pulses that is reducing sowing and creating water and fodder shortages.
- The state has begun targeted steps including publishing loan‑waiver beneficiary lists, arranging drinking water and fodder, planning MGNREGS water‑conservation works and conducting local crop assessments.
- Officials stress that official crop‑damage panchnamas and ground verification must be done after October 5 under National Disaster Response Fund rules before a formal drought declaration and central-aid request can be finalised.