Mumbai, Sep 26: In a major relief measure for the agrarian community, the MahaYuti‑led Maharashtra government on Saturday declared drought in 265 talukas across the state following an extensive review of the prevailing water deficit and crop conditions.

Reassuring affected agricultural households, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde affirmed that the administration will stand firmly behind farmers and ensure their festive season remains bright despite environmental hardship.

Following ground‑level inspections across affected districts by state ministers and reviews with the Agriculture and Revenue departments, an official Government Resolution (GR) was issued declaring drought under the Trigger‑1 framework.

DCM Shinde emphasised that the declaration is backed by an operational execution plan rather than remaining a cosmetic measure.

To alleviate financial distress on rural families, the state government has rolled out immediate relief mechanisms. Shinde said the state has waived land revenue levies, imposed immediate stays on loan recovery processes, and issued restructuring mandates for existing crop loans.

Orders have been passed to prevent disconnection of agricultural power pumps due to unpaid bills in drought‑hit regions, alongside energy tariff concessions. School and college examination fees for students from affected farm families have also been waived to prevent academic disruptions.

According to Shinde, norms under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) have been relaxed to expand local employment opportunities. Drinking water tanker deployment, fodder supply arrangements for livestock, food grain security measures, and water conservation projects are being accelerated.

District Collectors have been instructed to conduct urgent, transparent assessments (panchnamas) of crop losses using GPS coordinates and high‑resolution geotagged photography. Financial compensation packages tied to direct crop damage will be distributed under a separate GR once these field evaluations are finalised.

Highlighting ongoing support, Shinde noted that Rs 10,115 crore has already been disbursed to over 12.58 lakh verified farmers under the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Farmer Loan Waiver Scheme.

Urging farmers not to lose hope or take drastic measures, he reiterated that the Mahayuti government remains committed to supporting the agricultural sector through every stage of the crisis.

Mumbai, Sep 26: The Maharashtra government on Saturday declared drought conditions in 265 of the state’s 358 talukas following deficient monsoon rainfall during the 2026 Kharif season and announced a comprehensive relief package for affected farmers and rural households.

The state’s Relief and Rehabilitation Department issued the declaration through a Government Resolution (GR) after the implementation of Trigger-1 guidelines under the Drought Management Code, 2016, and based on a report submitted by the Commissioner of Agriculture.

District Collectors have been instructed to immediately initiate panchnama (field assessments) of crop loss across affected regions. The administration must collect geotagged photos with GPS coordinates of damaged farmlands and submit a comprehensive crop assessment report to the government through the Agriculture Commissioner.

To support farmers, agricultural labourers, and affected rural populations, the state government has extended a 12-point relief and concessions package for the designated 265 talukas. The government has announced a full waiver of land revenue for affected farmers, restructuring of existing agricultural loans, immediate stay on the recovery of all agriculture-related bank loans, exemption/concessions on current electricity bills for agricultural pumps above 7.5 HP capacity (up to 7.5 HP is already waived), waiver of examination fees for school and college students in the affected zones, relaxation of work norm criteria under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act to maximize employment generation, and deployment of water tankers wherever drinking water shortages occur.

Further, the government has issued strict orders preventing the disconnection of agricultural pump power supplies in declared scarcity-hit villages, implementation of targeted distribution systems to prevent food grain shortages for farmers and daily-wage agricultural workers, measures to ensure adequate supply and availability of fodder for cattle, immediate rollout of water conservation works in the affected belts and comprehensive planning for drinking and livestock water resources in accordance with government directives.

Out of the 358 talukas in Maharashtra, 265 (nearly 75 per cent) fall under Trigger-1 drought severity. In Konkan region, Ratnagiri (3 talukas ); Sindhudurg (8); Raigad (1 – Srivardhan); total 12, Nashik division; Nashik (10), Dhule (4), Jalgaon (15), Nandurbar (6), Ahilyanagar (14) total 49; Pune division, Pune (8), Solapur (11), Sangli (4), Satara (6), Kolhapur (6) total 35; Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (9), Jalna (8), Beed (11), Latur (10), Dharashiv (8), Nanded (14), Parbhani (9), Hingoli (5) total 74, Amravati division, Buldhana (13), Amravati (14), Akola (7), Washim (6), Yavatmal (16) total 56; and Nagpur division Wardha (7), Nagpur (14), Bhandara (3), Gondia (1), Chandrapur (12), Gadchiroli (2) total 39.

Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar and Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharane confirmed the government’s move to declare drought in 265 talukas. Sunetra Pawar, who is currently visiting drought-hit villages in Nanded district, said the government is with farmers and they will not be left ft in the lurch.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who visited Marathwada, Vidarbha region and Solapur district two days ago, announced that funds won’t be an issue to tackle the present agrarian crisis.

Similarly, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who visited drought-affected villages in Vidarbha, said that farmers must not lose heart; the government will provide substantial financial assistance.

Mumbai, Sep 26: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ daughter Divija Fadnavis and his wife, Amruta Fadnavis, on Saturday participated in the Divyaj Foundation’s annual ‘Sea Shore Shine 2026’ beach clean-up drive at Juhu Beach, a day after Ganesh Visarjan.

Speaking to reporters, Divija Fadnavis said it was important for young people to participate in social initiatives such as beach clean-up drives as they help foster a sense of responsibility towards the nation.

“I think it’s very important for the youth and younger generation to be involved in social initiatives like beach clean-ups, because it gives us a sense of responsibility towards our nation and builds confidence in ourselves to ensure that we keep our beaches and our nation clean,” she said.

BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide also joined the clean-up drive at Juhu Beach to promote environmental awareness and cleanliness. The campaign was organised under the leadership of Divyaj Foundation founder Amruta Fadnavis.

Actor Ajay Devgn also participated in the initiative and said he wanted to support the campaign because of its creative approach.

“Because this is a creative initiative. I wanted to thank the whole team, so I want to be a part of it, and I am a part of it,” Devgn said.

Speaking to media, BJP MLA Ram Kadam said Amruta Fadnavis, through the Divyaj Foundation, had been working for the cleanliness of the beach for the past six years and personally participated in the clean-up efforts.

“Several NGOs and spiritual organisations are also associated with this initiative. This is a great work. The immersion has been completed, but we ourselves should keep our city clean,” Kadam said.

Ganesh Visarjan was observed on Friday, September 25, coinciding with Anant Chaturdashi. The occasion marks the conclusion of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, when devotees bid farewell to Lord Ganesha after bringing idols home or installing them in public pandals.

The immersion of idols, accompanied by devotional songs, prayers and offerings, marks the departure of the deity, with devotees seeking Lord Ganesha’s blessings before bidding him farewell until the following year.

Environmental concerns surrounding idol immersion have also highlighted the need for post-immersion clean-up drives. The use of non-biodegradable materials, paints and other substances in idols can affect water quality, aquatic ecosystems and marine life.

Such initiatives aim to remove waste from beaches and promote greater public awareness about keeping marine and river ecosystems clean.