Nagpur: In a major Diwali announcement for farmers, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced that the Maharashtra Government has decided to waive pending electricity bills of farmers across the State, amounting to approximately ₹58,000 crore.
Fadnavis made the announcement while addressing a mass prayer meeting at Lohari Savanga village on Saturday, November 7. The decision is expected to provide significant relief to farmers burdened by outstanding electricity dues.
The Chief Minister said the State Government would stand firmly with farmers, particularly amid the agricultural difficulties caused by deficient rainfall during the previous monsoon.
He also highlighted the government’s efforts to strengthen rural infrastructure and improve water availability. According to Fadnavis, priority has been given to the construction and improvement of Panand roads, rejuvenation of old bandharas (small water-harvesting structures) and various water conservation projects to ensure adequate water availability in the coming months.
Referring to the teachings of Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj, Fadnavis said his celebrated work Gramgeeta provides a roadmap for the economic, cultural and intellectual development of villages.
He emphasised that the principles outlined in Gramgeeta remain relevant for achieving village prosperity and sustainable rural development.
State Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, MLAs Charansingh Thakur and Dr Ashish Deshmukh, MLC Dr Rajiv Potdar, Nagpur District Collector Kumar Ashirwad and Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Vinayak Mahamuni were among those present at the programme.
The announcement of the proposed ₹58,000 crore waiver marks a significant commitment towards addressing farmers’ financial distress. However, details regarding the implementation mechanism, eligibility criteria and timeline for the waiver are awaited.
