Connect with us
Sunday,01-November-2026
Breaking News

Maharashtra

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

Published

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.”

Maharashtra

‘Save the Vote, Save the Nation’: Rahul Gandhi urges people to join INDIA bloc’s ‘Chalo Dilli’ march

Published

on

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Sunday urged people to join the INDIA bloc’s ‘Chalo Dilli’ march in the national capital, calling for public participation in the protest against alleged electoral irregularities and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi appealed to people to gather at Connaught Place and march together towards Ramlila Maidan, where the opposition alliance is organising a major rally.

“Delhi, get ready! Save the Vote, Save the Nation. Come to Connaught Place, let’s march together. Or meet directly at Ramlila Maidan – but you must come. Today | 12 PM,” he posted.

The INDIA bloc has expressed optimism about public participation in the rally, asserting that the protest would witness “historic participation” extending beyond party workers.

Earlier in the day, while speaking to media, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut described the gathering as a “mega rally” and said the opposition would continue its agitation until the Chief Election Commissioner stepped down.

“They (the government) may be under the assumption that the agitation has ended, but we won’t let them go until Gyanesh Kumar resigns,” he asserted.

Raut also reiterated Rahul Gandhi’s allegation that people were being stopped from participating in the rally.

The INDIA bloc is organising the large-scale gathering at Ramlila Maidan to protest alleged electoral irregularities, oppose the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demand the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

The opposition alliance expects a major show of strength, as leaders from constituent parties, workers, and student groups have started to gather at the venue. The protest comes amid allegations by opposition parties of irregularities in the voter list revision process being undertaken by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Meanwhile, extensive security arrangements have been put in place across New Delhi and Central Delhi ahead of the rally. Additional personnel from the Rapid Action Force (RAF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), along with Delhi Police personnel, have been deployed around Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg.

Delhi Police have also tightened security across the national capital. Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) is in force across Delhi districts, and gatherings have been prohibited at key locations, including Jantar Mantar and the Election Commission office.

Continue Reading

Bollywood

Tiger Shroff firing case: 12th accused sent to police custody till Nov 6

Published

on

A Mumbai court on Saturday sent Amar, the 12th accused arrested from Haryana’s Sonipat in connection with the firing incident on Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff, to police custody till November 6.

On Thursday, a special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court had sent 11 other accused arrested in connection with the firing on Shroff’s car to police custody till November 6.

The latest accused was arrested from Rohna village in Sonipat.

Earlier in the day, the Mumbai Police had produced Amar before a court, which sent him to police custody until November 6.

According to officials, Amar is accused of having transferred money, allegedly used in the commission of the crime, online. The funds were reportedly used for various expenses, including the purchase of a motorcycle and booking hotel rooms linked to the case.

According to the preliminary investigation, Amar is a friend and neighbour of Kunal, who was arrested earlier in the case. Police investigations have revealed that Kunal allegedly transferred Rs 40,000 to Amar’s bank account.

Amar subsequently transferred Rs 12,000 to Radha’s bank account, another accused arrested earlier, allegedly on Kunal’s instructions.

The Mumbai Police are investigating these financial transactions to establish the purpose of the transfers and determine the connections between the accused. The money trail is being examined as part of the wider investigation into the firing incident.

Amar, who studied up to Class 10, works at a supplements shop. His parents reportedly earn their livelihood through daily-wage labour.

Meanwhile, Amar’s family has claimed that he is innocent and alleged that he has been falsely implicated in the case.

With nine of the 12 arrested accused reportedly belonging to Sonipat, the district has emerged as a key focus of the Mumbai Police investigation.

The police are examining the financial dealings and personal connections among the accused to establish the sequence of events and identify the roles played by individual suspects.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

36-year-old absconding accused arrested from Gujarat in Mumbai non-bailable warrant

Published

on

Mumbai: The Mumbai Crime Branch has claimed the arrest of a wanted suspect, against whom a non-bailable warrant had been issued by the court in connection with a theft case. The 29-year-old complainant was en route to deliver diamonds, gold jewelry, and cash from his shop when, in front of the main entrance of the Panchratna Building, four unidentified individuals—acting in conspiracy—threatened him with a revolver and a knife. They injured him and forcibly stole the diamonds, jewelry, and cash, valued at approximately 2,048,964 rupees. A case was subsequently registered at the D.B. Marg Police Station. Following further investigation by Crime Branch Unit 2, a charge sheet was filed in court. The 59-year-old suspect involved in this crime had repeatedly failed to appear in court during the proceedings, leading to the issuance of a non-bailable warrant against him. The Crime Branch carried out this operation to execute the said warrant.

Acting on direct intelligence and technical analysis, the police team tracked down the 59-year-old suspect—who was a wanted individual subject to a non-bailable warrant—and took him into custody on October 30th in Gaonpur, Vadodara district, Gujarat. This operation was conducted under the directives of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, with the involvement of Joint Police Commissioner Anil Kumbhare, Additional Commissioner Krishna Kant Upadhyay, and DCP Raj Tilak Roshan.

Continue Reading

Trending