Mumbai, Sep 23: As severe drought threatens large swathes of Maharashtra, the state government has stepped into high gear, with the top leadership of the cabinet launching ground-zero inspection drives to review crop damage and outline immediate relief measures.

A deficit rainfall driven by the Al Niño phenomenon has devastated crops across Marathwada, Vidarbha, Khandesh, and Western Maharashtra, snatching livelihoods from farmers and triggering an acute crisis of drinking water and livestock fodder.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is conducting an extensive field tour across Latur, Dharashiv, and Solapur districts to interact directly with affected farmers on their agricultural land. He is inspecting moisture-stressed and withered crops across Jau, Kharosa, and Lamjana villages in Ausa and Nilanga talukas.

According to BJP MLA Abhimanyu Pawar, CM Fadnavis will hold a direct dialogue with local farmers at Kharosa. Commencing his tour, the Chief Minister — joined by Public Works Minister Shivendraraje Bhosale and Dharashiv Guardian Minister Pratap Sarnaik — will visit Karajkheda in Dharashiv taluka and Malkapur in Kalamb taluka.

Further inspections are scheduled for Yermala (Kalamb) and Tuljapur. The CM’s itinerary includes field inspections across three major drought-hit locations in Solapur district. All eyes remain on the Chief Minister regarding upcoming relief packages and key policy declarations for drought mitigation.

Simultaneously, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is spearheading crop assessment efforts in Western Vidarbha, covering Buldhana, Akola, and Amravati districts. Issuing a stern directive to his cabinet ministers, Dy CM Shinde mandated that all Shiv Sena ministers descend to Ground Zero, perform immediate panchnamas (crop damage loss assessments), and conduct Janata Durbars (public grievance hearings) in affected villages.

Reassuring the farming community, Dy CM Shinde pledged the full financial and administrative backing of the state government.

Further, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar reviewed the worsening drought scenario in the Warud-Morshi belt of Amravati district following a briefing in Mumbai by former Morshi MLA Devendra Bhuyar.

Addressing critical issues regarding drinking water shortages and agricultural distress, Dy CM Pawar contacted the Amravati District Collector to direct immediate administrative intervention.

Following prolonged dry spells across all eight talukas and 52 revenue circles in Jalna, Collector Aashima Mittal issued official orders creating a centralised War Room. The command centre will monitor daily metrics regarding crop health, fodder availability, water storage, tanker-filling stations, premature crop-cutting experiments, e-crop surveys, and potential rural migration.

Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharane on Tuesday evening chaired a high-level review meeting at CIDCO Bhavan in Navi Mumbai. The session assessed water scarcity, agricultural losses, and local agrarian distress across Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, Raigad, Thane, and Palghar districts.

Earlier on Tuesday, CM Fadnavis announced the establishment of a Cabinet Sub-Committee, chaired by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, to oversee and execute measures to address drought-like conditions in several parts of Maharashtra.

Speaking to the media, the Chief Minister, who chaired the weekly cabinet meeting, affirmed that the state government will extend immediate assistance to affected farmers without waiting for financial aid from the Central government. He added that a preliminary notification declaring drought-like conditions will be officially released by Saturday.

During the cabinet meeting, ministers reviewed rainfall metrics, reservoir water levels, and overall agricultural status across the state. CM Fadnavis noted that primary data collection regarding the drought situation is already underway. To facilitate swift decision-making, the newly formed Cabinet Sub-Committee has been vested with full cabinet powers.

The panel will determine relief packages and measures based on incoming statewide field data. Official crop damage assessments (panchnamas) are directed to begin on Wednesday. Major crops, including soybean, maize, and cotton, have suffered extensive damage, while paddy fields in the Konkan region have also been severely impacted.

“I will personally begin inspecting affected areas starting tomorrow, and I have directed all ministers and elected representatives to go directly to the ground (bandh) to assess the damage,” said CM Fadnavis. He added that a formal proposal requesting relief funds based on NDRF norms will be submitted to the Central government.

Special focus will be placed on drinking water supplies and livestock fodder over the next seven to eight months, co-ordinated through Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, and local self-government bodies, he noted.

CM Fadnavis said, “Ministers will begin state tour tomorrow to inspect drought-affected regions, Cabinet Sub-Committee has been granted full cabinet authority to make immediate relief decisions, on-ground crop damage assessments (panchnamas) will start statewide tomorrow, priority allocation for drinking water management and livestock fodder supply and relief deployment will begin immediately without waiting for central assistance.”

Mumbai, Sep 23: Launching a scathing attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological allies, Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray on Wednesday termed the recurring thefts at the Ayodhya Ram Temple a “stain on national pride”.

The Thackeray camp, in an editorial in the party’s mouthpiece, ‘Saamana’, alleged that those who rode to power under the banner of Hindutva have compromised the solemn sacrifices of Kar Sevaks.

Referring to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) status report submitted to the Supreme Court by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on Monday, the editorial highlighted that CCTV footage and forensic audits have confirmed 105 separate instances of currency theft and donation siphoning from the temple’s counting room. It emphasised that this legal disclosure directly exposes earlier statements of leaders, like Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who had dismissed opposition claims as “false propaganda” to malign Hindutva.

“The revelation before the Supreme Court is a resounding slap in the face of those who tried to cover up the thefts by calling the allegations an anti-Hindutva conspiracy. The self-proclaimed watchdogs (Chowkidars) of Hindutva turned out to be the thieves themselves,” the editorial asserted.

Comparing the internal looting to historic invasions, the editorial claimed that even Mahmud of Ghazni had not looted Hindu temples 105 times, accusing the BJP camp’s insiders of acting as modern-day plundering invaders.

The Thackeray camp accused BJP-linked individuals of acquiring land around the temple site cheaply and selling it back to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust at inflated, multi-crore prices. It alleged that Ayodhya has been converted from a spiritual pilgrimage into a commercial venture for corporate allies and celebrity sycophants.

The editorial slammed the ruling party for disrupting Parliamentary proceedings to deny a debate on the temple thefts, declaring that refusing to discuss the looting of Lord Ram’s treasury is the ultimate act of treason against the deity.

It further noted that while genuine devotees and Kar Sevaks shed their blood in Ayodhya, those who fled during the Babri demolition now control the temple trust’s keys, stealing cash, ornaments of Lord Ram and Goddess Sita, and mismanaging public offerings.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena asserted that had the Opposition not exposed the scam through public agitation, including Shiv Sena(UBT)’s ‘Ram Raksha’ campaign, and disrupted Parliament, the systematic looting would have expanded unchecked from 105 instances to thousands, potentially resulting in the fraudulent transfer or sale of temple property to favoured industrialists.

Concluding with a stern warning, the editorial questioned the state of the nation’s public treasury if a party cannot even secure the donation boxes of its most revered deity.

Mumbai, Sep 23: Amid drought-like conditions in Maharashtra, Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sunetra Pawar on Wednesday directed party ministers, guardian ministers, MPs, MLAs, former legislators and key office-bearers to personally visit farmers’ fields and assess crop damage.

Pawar asked NCP leaders to ensure that farmers were not left stranded during the period of natural distress. She urged party representatives to understand their grievances firsthand, inspect affected areas, and follow up with the administration to secure timely assistance.

“When farmers are facing adversity, it is our duty to stand firmly by them. Visit their fields, hear their concerns, reassure them, and make every effort to secure the necessary state support for them,” she said.

She also asked party workers and representatives to instil confidence among farmers that the NCP stood with them during the difficult period.

Pawar stressed the need to submit farmers’ grievances to the administration, ensure that panchnamas, or official crop damage assessment reports, were prepared, and pursue relief and other necessary measures at the government level.

Meanwhile, Pawar visited the Lalbagcha Raja in Mumbai on Wednesday and offered prayers for relief from the crisis confronting farmers.

According to a statement issued by her office, she prayed for greenery to return to farmers’ fields, adequate water for crops, and fruitful returns for their hard work.

She also prayed to Lord Ganesha for farmers to find the strength to overcome the adversity, for satisfactory rainfall across Maharashtra, for crop damage to be prevented and for farmers to enjoy happiness and prosperity.

Earlier, on Tuesday evening, Pawar announced the postponement of the NCP’s ‘Chintan Shivir’, scheduled for September 27 in Nashik, citing the worsening drought-like situation across the state.

The prolonged dry spell has placed standing crops under severe stress and caused financial difficulties for the farming community. The state government is assessing relief measures, while opposition parties have stepped up pressure for unconditional financial assistance to affected farmers.

Amid growing concern in rural areas, some NCP leaders reportedly cautioned that holding a high-profile political gathering at a time of agrarian distress could adversely affect the party’s public image. Following internal discussions, demands to reconsider the event gained momentum, resulting in its postponement.

The party’s decision to defer the Nashik gathering came as its leadership sought to focus attention on the situation facing farmers. Pawar’s latest directions also put the emphasis on direct field visits, documentation of crop losses and coordination with officials to ensure that affected cultivators receive assistance.

The deputy CM asked leaders to remain accessible and monitor relief.