Devendra Fadnavis said Wednesday that 305 talukas in Maharashtra have been declared drought‑hit, up from 265 earlier this year, and that the state will deposit ₹5,000 in each affected farmer’s bank account before the Diwali festival.
The decision follows a supplementary government resolution that added 40 additional talukas after farmers filed complaints, and it brings 3.5 lakh farmers under the full suite of 12 standard drought relief concessions, including loan restructuring, land revenue waivers and power‑bill subsidies.
Water shortages have pushed groundwater levels in Marathwada observation wells below three metres, prompting the government to deploy GPS‑tracked water tankers in October and November; meanwhile, 16,000 illegal connections were cut to protect drinking supplies.
Fodder reserves across the state vary from 90 days to seven months, and the government urged farmers with irrigation or dam water to switch to rabi jowar and fodder crops, promising to buy any harvested fodder at the minimum support price.
A farmer from Wardha said the ₹5,000 would help him purchase high‑yield seed and cover immediate expenses while he waits for the crop season to recover.
Funds will be credited by September 30, and the state will monitor disbursement through the agriculture department’s digital portal, with the next audit scheduled for early November.