Mumbai: The Maharashtra Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, on Tuesday has approved an advance payment of Rs 5,000 to farmers in drought-hit areas before Diwali, as the State steps in to provide immediate relief amid crop losses and water shortages.
Fadnavis announced the decision on October 14, saying the government would not wait for the Centre to complete the procedures required to release drought assistance. The amount will be transferred directly to farmers’ bank accounts as interim relief, with the state using its own resources to ensure that financial assistance reaches them ahead of the festival.
According to a report, the State’s estimated expenditure on the advance payment could be around Rs 6,000 crore to Rs 7,000 crore. The final number of beneficiaries and the overall cost remain subject to the eligibility criteria being finalised.
The decision comes as the Maharashtra Government has expanded the list of drought-affected areas from 265 to 305 talukas, out of a total of 358 in the state. The government added 40 more talukas after reviewing complaints and assessing the situation on the ground.
Fadnavis said all 12 standard drought-relief concessions would be extended to the 305 affected talukas. These include crop loan restructuring, concessions on land revenue, subsidies on electricity bills and educational fee exemptions for farmers’ children.
The Chief Minister said the advance payment was intended to provide immediate financial support while the Centre’s assessment and relief procedures continued. Farmers would be eligible for further assistance as per the applicable relief package and government guidelines.
Loan recovery, water supply measures
The government has also warned District Central Cooperative Banks and credit societies against coercive loan recovery, harassment or undue pressure on farmers. Similar efforts are being made to ensure that private banks and financial institutions follow the directions.
The administration has also stepped up measures to manage water scarcity in drought-affected regions. Fadnavis said groundwater levels in observation wells across Marathwada had fallen below three metres, prompting the government to prepare for the early deployment of water tankers. Tankers will be tracked through GPS systems.
The state has disconnected nearly 16,000 illegal water connections as part of efforts to protect drinking water supplies. The government has also said fodder reserves vary from around 90 days to seven months across regions and that fodder harvested in suitable areas would be purchased at the Minimum Support Price.
Relief amid mounting agricultural distress
The advance payment comes as farmers across large parts of Maharashtra face the impact of inadequate rainfall and the resulting agricultural distress. The government has brought forward the drought notification process this year, with Fadnavis saying the severity of the situation required action before the usual timeline for drought declarations and relief measures.
The announcement has also drawn criticism from farmers’ organisations and opposition leaders, who have questioned whether Rs 5,000 would be sufficient to offset crop losses and cultivation costs. The government has maintained that the payment is intended as immediate interim assistance rather than a substitute for the wider drought-relief package.
The state is expected to continue processing assessments and documentation required for additional assistance as the drought situation evolves.
