Mumbai: In a major relief announcement ahead of Diwali, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said the State government had expanded the list of drought-affected areas from 265 to 305 talukas and decided to provide a special bonus of Rs 5,000 to farmers. The amount, he assured, would be credited directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts before the festival.
Acknowledging the mounting financial distress caused by crop losses and inadequate water availability, Fadnavis said the government had accelerated its drought-response measures to ensure that assistance reached farmers earlier than usual. He pointed out that relief was normally extended in December, but the government had decided to act in advance this year.
“This Diwali is going to be difficult for farmers,” the Chief Minister said, explaining that the bonus was intended to help agricultural families meet their expenses during the festive season. He added that payments under the loan-waiver scheme were also being credited to farmers’ accounts.
The latest declaration brings the number of drought-affected talukas to 305 out of Maharashtra’s 358, covering areas across the State’s 32 districts, according to the figures cited by the government.
Water crisis deepens, tanker supply under GPS surveillance
Alongside drought relief, the government is stepping up measures to tackle the worsening drinking-water crisis. Fadnavis said the number of water tankers was rising as groundwater levels continued to decline, with the water table reported to have fallen below three metres in affected areas.
To improve monitoring and prevent irregularities, the government has decided to track water tankers through GPS. The Chief Minister also said 16,000 illegal water connections had been disconnected and assured that the administration would prioritise a safe drinking-water supply.
The measures come as falling water availability places additional pressure on drought-hit communities and rural households.
Cabinet salutes Modi’s 25 years in government
At the press conference, Fadnavis also announced that the Maharashtra Cabinet had adopted a resolution congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi on completing 25 years as head of government. Modi first became Gujarat Chief Minister on October 7, 2001, and subsequently became Prime Minister in 2014.
The Cabinet resolution acknowledged his leadership and contributions to national development, particularly initiatives aimed at supporting economically weaker and disadvantaged sections. The government said the resolution would be sent to the Prime Minister.
Fadnavis cited housing, healthcare, sanitation and the One Nation One Ration Card initiative among the programmes he said had benefited people across the country. He also highlighted infrastructure development in Maharashtra, including the Metro network, Atal Setu, the Samruddhi Expressway and Navi Mumbai International Airport.
Irrigation, rural jobs and infrastructure in focus
The Chief Minister listed several initiatives linked to agriculture, irrigation, water supply and industrial development. These included 29 major irrigation projects, the Baliraja Sanjivani Yojana and the PM-KUSUM scheme, which supports solar-powered agricultural energy solutions.
He also referred to loans being extended to farmers, credit under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, the completion of 29,000 water-supply schemes, rural employment generation and the development of AURIC City in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Railway electrification and land allocation for the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar memorial at Indu Mill were among the other initiatives mentioned.
Fadnavis said development projects worth Rs 12 lakh crore were underway in Maharashtra under the Prime Minister’s leadership. He reiterated the government’s ambition to help build a $5-trillion Indian economy by 2029 and said the Cabinet had also adopted a resolution expressing gratitude for Modi’s leadership.
For drought-hit farmers, however, the immediate priority remains the promised financial assistance, timely loan-waiver payments and reliable drinking-water supplies. The government’s challenge will be to ensure that the announced relief reaches eligible beneficiaries before Diwali and that water-management measures keep pace with the worsening scarcity.
