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.

Latur, Sep 23: In the wake of an intensifying drought across the state caused by a complete absence of rainfall over the last six weeks, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday visited ground zero in Latur from the Marathwada region to inspect crop damage and interact directly with affected farmers.

Addressing the media from the fields, the Chief Minister pledged that a lack of funds would not be allowed to impede drought relief measures.

With prolonged dry spells causing widespread crop failures, farmers in Marathwada have been facing acute shortages of drinking water and livestock fodder, prompting urgent demands for immediate financial assistance and an official drought declaration.

“The government has taken this severe drought situation with utmost seriousness and initiated comprehensive mitigation measures,” CM Fadnavis stated during his review. “We stand firmly behind our farmers during this crisis. The ongoing farm loan waiver scheme will continue without disruption, and we are mobilising additional funds to ensure no shortage of relief resources,” he added.

The Chief Minister confirmed that state aid will be disbursed to farmers immediately without waiting for central relief, after which financial aid will be sought from the Centre as per NDRF norms.

A formal notification declaring drought conditions across affected regions is scheduled to be issued by Saturday. He further said that comprehensive plans have been executed to manage drinking water distribution and supply livestock fodder to vulnerable districts.

To permanently address Marathwada’s water deficit, the government plans to divert surplus water from Kolhapur and Sangli into the Ujani dam, routing it directly into Marathwada. Discussions with the World Bank are underway, with a detailed project report (DPR) expected by December, said the CM.

Criticising the previous administration for stalling the Marathwada Water Grid project, CM Fadnavis emphasised that restoring long-term water infrastructure remains a key priority.

“Providing immediate relief to farmers is our top priority,” he emphasised, reiterating the state’s commitment to restoring agrarian stability in the impacted belts.

Meanwhile, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde will visit fields in Akola and Buldhana districts during the day and meet farmers whose crops have been badly hit due to a lack of rainfall.

Against the backdrop of drought-like conditions in the state, Dy CM and NCP president Sunetra Pawar on Wednesday issued strict and explicit directives to all party ministers, guardian ministers, MPs, MLAs, former MLAs, and key office-bearers to personally visit farmers’ fields and assess the crop damage on the ground.

She instructed leaders not to leave farmers stranded during this time of natural distress. She urged party representatives to understand farmers’ grievances firsthand, inspect the affected regions, and actively follow up to ensure prompt administrative assistance.