85% of Maharashtra talukas face drought; Devendra Fadnavis promises ₹5,000 aid before Diwali

Maharashtra will transfer ₹5,000 to farmers’ bank accounts before Diwali as immediate financial assistance. The payment is meant to provide quick support while the wider drought-relief process continues. The drought classification has also expanded sharply, covering 305 of the state’s 358 talukas.

The government initially declared 265 talukas drought-affected because of a rainfall deficit. After reviewing complaints, it added 40 more talukas through a supplementary Government Resolution. All 12 standard state drought-relief concessions now apply in the newly included areas.

The early payment reflects the severity of the situation. The government usually issues drought notifications by the end of November and begins assistance in December. This year, it moved the notification forward to October. Officials are also processing debt-relief payments for another 3.5 lakh eligible farmers and preparing further water and fodder measures.

For a taluka, being officially declared drought-affected means the state government has formally recognised serious drought conditions there. That decision matters because it activates the government’s drought-relief framework. The article links the declarations to rainfall deficits and says the status brings access to 12 standard state concessions.

For example, those concessions include crop-loan restructuring, land-revenue waivers and electricity-bill subsidies. The government also removed older limits on educational fee waivers for farmers’ children, making the exemption universal across drought-affected areas. These measures are tied to the formal classification rather than being informal promises.

The declaration also guides wider action. Banks and credit societies were warned not to use coercive recovery practices, while farmers received protection over outstanding electricity bills. The government brought the notification forward to October because conditions were severe, rather than following the usual November-to-December timetable.

The drought classification covers 305 of Maharashtra’s 358 talukas. That is more than 85% of all talukas in the state, showing that the problem is geographically widespread rather than limited to a few districts. The total rose from 265 after the government reviewed complaints and added 40 talukas.

The article separately identifies another 3.5 lakh farmers whose eligibility for scheduled debt-relief payments has been authenticated. These farmers are expected to receive debt-relief payments through a process running alongside the drought measures. The figure is therefore linked specifically to debt relief, not necessarily to every farmer in the 305 talukas.

The scale has affected the timing and design of the response. The government moved the drought notification forward to October and promised ₹5,000 before Diwali. It also expanded concessions, warned lenders against coercion and prepared water-tanker operations as groundwater conditions worsened.

The ₹5,000 transfer is only immediate assistance. Drought-affected talukas also receive all 12 standard state drought-relief concessions. The package is designed to reduce several pressures at once, including debt, government charges, electricity costs and education expenses.

Specific measures include restructuring crop loans, waiving land revenue and providing subsidies on electricity bills. Farmers’ children also gain a universal educational fee exemption across drought-affected areas after outdated restrictions from a 1992 resolution were removed. Agricultural pumps up to 7.5 horsepower remain eligible for free electricity under state policy.

The government is adding protections against forced repayment. DCC banks and credit societies were warned against pressuring or harassing borrowers, and similar directions are being extended to private lenders. Farmers are also protected from coercive action over outstanding electricity bills. These measures operate alongside debt-relief payments and water-support preparations.

The ₹5,000 payment was brought forward because the normal drought-assessment process takes time. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said completing the full administrative process and central assessment before Diwali would not be legally possible. Waiting for every formal step would have delayed urgent help to farmers.

The government therefore chose an advance payment before the festival. This does not replace the wider procedure. The state first declared 265 talukas, reviewed complaints, and then formally added 40 more through a supplementary Government Resolution. The broader relief framework continues alongside the early cash support.

Normally, drought declarations are made by the end of November, with assistance beginning in December. This year, officials issued the notification in October because they considered the situation severe. The approach combines immediate assistance with later administrative confirmation, debt-relief processing and other concessions for the 305 affected talukas.

Falling groundwater can reduce water available for drinking and farming. In Marathwada, groundwater levels in observation wells have dropped below three metres. If supplies become harder to access, rural households may depend more on tankers, while farmers face greater difficulty maintaining crops and livestock.

Livestock are especially exposed when fodder supplies shrink. Maharashtra’s fodder availability ranges from 90 days to seven months, depending on the region. In irrigated areas or places with dam water, farmers are being encouraged to grow rabi jowar and fodder crops. The government says it will purchase all harvested fodder at the Minimum Support Price.

The state is preparing to deploy water tankers as early as October and November. GPS systems will monitor every tanker, and nearly 16,000 illegal water connections have been disconnected to protect drinking supplies. These actions aim to limit shortages, but prolonged drought could still strain communities and livestock.

Agricultural drought means crops do not receive enough usable water during important growing periods. A rainfall deficit can start the problem, but its severity also depends on groundwater, reservoirs and irrigation. If wells and stored water are low, farmers have fewer reliable ways to compensate for weak rains. The article links Maharashtra’s drought declarations to rainfall deficits and reports falling groundwater in Marathwada.

Irrigation and dam water can make some areas more resilient. Where those supplies exist, the government is encouraging farmers to grow rabi jowar and fodder crops. Crop choice matters because farmers can select crops suited to the water available, helping support food production and livestock. The state also promises to buy harvested fodder at MSP.

The current picture is uneven. Fodder availability ranges from 90 days to seven months across Maharashtra. Tankers may be needed as early as October and November, showing how groundwater and drinking-water conditions can shape the next phase of the drought.