Connect with us
हिंदी اردو
Sunday,20-September-2026
Breaking News

Maharashtra

Govt waives Rs 48,000 crore electricity bill arrears for farmers: Maha CM

Published

2 months ago

on

Mumbai, July 15: In a major relief for the agricultural sector, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday announced a massive Rs 48,000 crore waiver on outstanding electricity bill arrears for the state’s farmers.

Speaking at a farmers’ gratitude ceremony organised by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Kisan Morcha, the Chief Minister stated that the decision aims to provide a completely clean slate for farmers, allowing them to script a new future.

While the state government already provides free electricity to farmers for pumps up to 7.5 horsepower (HP), this decision will wipe out all historical dues. CM Fadnavis emphasised that temporary financial relief is not the ultimate solution for agricultural distress.

Supported by an annual Rs 25,000 crore power subsidy, the Solar Pump and Solar Agricultural Feeder schemes currently provide daytime electricity to 76 per cent of the state’s farmers.

Fadnavis assured that 100 per cent of farmers will receive daytime power by the end of this year. While farmers currently do not receive active bills for using these 7.5 HP motor pumps to irrigate their lands, older unpaid dues remain registered in their names, preventing them from securing any new power connections, said the Chief Minister.

“Our government has decided to write off Rs 48,000 crore in old electricity bills. The farmer’s slate must be wiped clean so they can write a new history of progress,” he stated.

Fadnavis highlighted the government’s transition toward solar and sustainable energy to benefit rural communities. Around 76 per cent of the state’s farmers are currently receiving free electricity during the day. The government aims to scale this up to cover 100 per cent of farmers with free, daytime agricultural power by the end of this year.

Fadnavis clarified that the Rs 40,000 crore loan waiver and the newly announced electricity waiver were calculated policy decisions rather than election stunts.

He said the government did not make this decision with an eye on the upcoming elections, adding that they had promised relief during the assembly elections, and that the people of Maharashtra gave the BJP-Mahayuti an unprecedented mandate.

He stated that their decisions are guided strictly by the welfare of the farmers, not by political balancing acts, taking a swipe at opposition parties for using agrarian issues for political posturing.

He further stated that loan waivers are not a permanent fix. If a state has to repeatedly waive loans, it clearly indicates that the agricultural sector is under severe stress. The only real solution is to make farming profitable by introducing modern techniques, advanced technology, and robust capital investment.

Highlighting the government’s initiatives since 2014, the Chief Minister pointed to successful structural interventions. The Jalyukt Shivar (water conservation scheme) and Magel Tyala Shettale (farm ponds on demand) initiatives have enabled millions of farmers to transition from single-crop setups to harvesting up to three crops a year.

The government is heavily promoting group farming to reduce production costs, boost yields, and help local produce break into global markets. He added that previous rigid conditions tied to the loan waivers have now been relaxed to ensure maximum reach.

The state is also heavily incentivising natural farming practices and the conservation of indigenous cattle breeds to improve soil health and lower input costs. To sustainably fund agricultural relief, the Chief Minister outlined an economic strategy that leverages high tax yields from booming industrial and service sectors to reinvest directly into rural infrastructure.

Addressing the fact that 52 per cent of Maharashtra remains drought-prone, CM Fadnavis unveiled an ambitious river-linking and water grid blueprint. The Wainganga-Nalganga project will divert surplus rainwater into the Godavari and Tapi basins. The plan includes constructing 24 new dams and increasing the height of 16 existing reservoirs.

The government plans to redirect 200 TMC of floodwater from Western Maharashtra to the arid Marathwada region via diversion bunds. Additionally, nearly 275 TMC of water from the Ulhas basin will be channelled to North Maharashtra and Marathwada.

“Merely dreaming is not enough; fulfilling those dreams is my mission,” CM Fadnavis concluded, noting that the state has planned long-term water and agricultural projects worth Rs 6 lakh crore. “Once these works are completed, the next generation of Maharashtra will never have to witness a drought.”

Post Views: 56,797
Related Tags:

Crime

Stall operator booked after two die of electrocution in Mumbai Lalbaug Ganesh pandal

Published

1 hour ago

on

September 20, 2026

By

Mumbai, Sep 20: An FIR has been filed following a tragic electrocution incident near a Ganesh festival pandal in Mumbai Lalbaug area early on Sunday, which resulted in the deaths of two people, including an 8-year-old girl.

Two people, including an eight-year-old girl, died and four others were seriously injured after receiving electric shocks from a loose wire at a Pepsi-Cola stall near Aastha Hospital on Dattaram Lad Marg in Kalachowki, Mumbai, early Sunday.

Police have registered an FIR against nearby stall operator Kamal Shetty under Sections 106(1) and 125(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, alleging negligence, and have begun an investigation.

According to information from the fire brigade, the incident occurred at around 2 a.m. on Sunday when devotees were present near the pandal.

Two boys and three girls, aged between 8 and 20, reportedly came into contact with the electrical current and suffered burn injuries.

Following the incident, all five victims were rushed to Masina Hospital in Byculla for treatment. Doctors declared the 8-year-old girl Raghni Ghanshyam Yadav dead upon arrival.

Meanwhile, a second victim, a woman who was admitted to Global Hospital in Parel, later succumbed to her injuries. Her identity was yet to be ascertained.

Kiran Akbar Naik, 19, Tanvi Narsh Hande, 19, Sahil Sandip Tare, 19, and Ruhi Singh, 12, were undergoing treatment for injuries sustained in the incident.

Among the injured, one girl was reportedly in critical condition and was shifted to Global Hospital in Parel for further treatment. The remaining three injured victims are undergoing treatment at Masina Hospital and have been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), where their condition remains serious.

According to the FIR filed at Kalachowki Police Station, the wire allegedly came into contact with the girl, Raghni, and others nearby.

The girl was declared dead at Masina Hospital, while another woman, identified as 33-year-old Sujata Thorati, died at Global Hospital. Four injured persons were admitted for treatment.

Post Views: 66,698
Continue Reading

Maharashtra

17-year-old among three killed in Mumbai high-end car accident (Lead)

Published

2 hours ago

on

September 20, 2026

By

Mumbai, Sep 20: A 17-year-old was among the three people who were killed in a serious accident involving a high-end car on the Mumbai Coastal Road early on Sunday, officials said.

Another person is critically injured and is currently receiving treatment.

According to information received from the Coastal Road Control Room, the accident occurred at around 5.20 a.m. near Lotus Jetty, opposite Lala College.

The car was travelling from Marine Drive towards Haji Ali when the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle due to overspeeding.

The speeding vehicle crashed onto the Coastal Road and hit a boundary wall. It fell off the bridge into an area where construction work was underway.

The severity of the accident was evident from the extent of the damage to the car.

The vehicle tore off through the signboard hanging from the bridge. The roof of the car was pushed inwards, the windshield was shattered, and the bonnet was completely destroyed.

Following the accident, all four occupants of the car were rushed to Nair Hospital, where emergency medical teams assessed their condition.

According to an update issued by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Nair Hospital at around 8.40 a.m., three of the occupants were declared brought dead by doctors.

Two of the deceased have been identified as 21-year-old Shanay Gajjal and 17-year-old Dhirya Seth. The identity of the third deceased is yet to be ascertained.

The injured has been identified as 23-year-old Aditya Oswal.

Speaking about the incident to media, Senior Police Inspector Meena Jagtap said: “At around 5:20 a.m., a black BMW was travelling from Marine Drive towards Haji Ali in the northbound direction when it fell from the Coastal Road. There were four people in the car. Three people died, while Aditya is currently at Nair Hospital.”

She said that it is yet to be ascertained whether the occupants of the car were in an intoxicated state when the accident occurred.

Police are investigating the case.

Further details are awaited.

On September 3, several people were booked after Mumbai Police took cognisance of a viral video showing luxury and high-performance cars speeding and racing dangerously inside the Marine Drive-Southbound Coastal Road tunnel.

Meanwhile, earlier this week, three people were critically injured after a speeding off-road SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) hit them near PKC Hospital in Vashi, Navi Mumbai.

The driver fled the spot after the crash instead of helping the injured.

Post Views: 59,313
Continue Reading

Maharashtra

BEST bus driver injured after head-on collision with private travel bus in Mumbai

Published

3 hours ago

on

September 20, 2026

By

Mumbai, Sep 20: A BEST bus operating on Route 496 collided head-on with a private travel bus in Mumbai Mulund West early on Sunday, leaving its driver injured and triggering a minor fire in the vehicle.

The incident took place at around 5.50 a.m. in Mulund West, where ongoing Metro construction work on LBS Marg had restricted traffic movement to a single lane.

The BEST bus was travelling from SEEPZ towards Teen Hath Naka in Thane when it was involved in a collision with an oncoming private travel bus.

The impact of the head-on collision caused the steering wheel of the BEST bus to strike the abdomen of its driver, identified as 40-year-old Sandeep Namdev Karande.

He sustained injuries to his abdomen and right leg and also suffered heavy bleeding following the collision.

Soon after the impact, a minor fire broke out in the bonnet of the BEST bus, creating an additional emergency at the spot.

The conductor of the bus immediately responded by using the fire extinguisher available onboard and managed to douse the flames.

Following the accident, the conductor immediately arranged for the injured driver to receive medical attention, and Karande was rushed to the Agarwal Hospital in Mulund.

Authorities said that Karande was conscious and in a stable condition after being admitted to the hospital.

He was being treated for the injuries sustained in the collision.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, three people were killed, and another was critically injured in a serious accident involving a high-end car on the Mumbai Coastal Road early on Sunday, officials said.

According to information received from the Coastal Road Control Room, the accident occurred at around 5.20 a.m. near Lotus Jetty, opposite Lala College.

The car was travelling from Marine Drive towards Haji Ali when the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle, reportedly due to overspeeding.

Post Views: 68,617
Continue Reading

Trending