Maharashtra Declares Drought In 265 Talukas, Announces Relief

Synopsis

A rainfall-shortfall assessment has led to the declaration of drought in 265 of the state's 358 talukas or 74 per cent of its geographical area, by the Maharashtra government. Relief measures have been announced, such as restructuring of crop loans, concession of land revenue and subsidy on power bills, while the compensation for crop loss will be on the basis of a separate procedure.

The drought was declared State-Wide in 2016

The Maharashtra government on Saturday declared a drought in 74 per cent (265 of 358) talukas due to a rainfall deficit while announcing measures such as restructuring of crop loans, concessions on land revenue and power bills. A fresh government resolution regarding financial aid for losses is likely to be issued according to the procedure.

The District-Wise Breakdown

The 265 talukas affected by the drought are spread across the 32 districts, with the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division having the maximum number of 74 drought-hit talukas, according to the government resolution, issued late Friday.

Amravati has 56, Nashik 49, Nagpur 39, Pune 35 and Thane 12 talukas — eight in Sindhudurg, three in Ratnagiri and one in Raigad — with this number of talukas.This is followed by Amravati with 56, Nashik 49, Nagpur 39, Pune 35 and Thane 12 talukas — eight in Sindhudurg, three in Ratnagiri and eight in Raigad.

The declaration was based on a technical evaluation. According to Agriculture Commissioner's report, the rainfall deficiency and other factors continued since June resulting in drought-like situation in 265 talukas.

What Relief Is: An on-the-ground perspective

The state has done more than declared and is now in the implementation phase. The government has instructed the district collectors to start assessing damage to crops in impacted talukas and ask them for photographs, GPS coordinates of the surveyed zone to document the state of the crops and submit reports to the agriculture commissioner.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told reporters that the government was assuring the farmers that the assessment of the damage to their crops would be done immediately after the declaration, and that farmers still remain at the centre of the relief action.

The mechanics of the Concessions

The relief package is based on an existing administrative package of drought years. It involves restructuring of outstanding crop loans, concessions in land revenue, and postponing loan collection — measures the state has traditionally adopted to soften the blow of successive years of below-average rainfall for farm households.

But a fresh measure aimed at minimizing claims disputes over eligibility has been added to the process, and compensation for crop losses will only be finalized after the ground-based, geo-tagged assessments are completed and verified.

A Recurring Vulnerability

Such large-scale droughts aren't a first in Maharashtra; the state has faced critically low rainfall in the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions for a decade, and each time has seen similar rounds of loan restructuring and waiving of revenue.

The extent of the current declaration is what makes this one stand out: it includes almost three-quarters of the state's talukas, reflecting the scope of this year's monsoon dry spell compared to previous and geographically less extensive droughts.

Implications Ahead

Crop damage surveys have begun, and the state's fiscal exposure will hinge on what is ultimately paid out, which will be notified separately.

The immediate relief for the farming households across the 32 affected districts will be loan and revenue relief, but not cash compensation, which is dependent on administrative finalisation — which could be soon or later — before it can have a positive impact on their pocket.