The Maharashtra Cabinet has approved an advance payment of Rs 5,000 to each of 1.5 crore farmers in 304 drought-affected talukas, with the amount to be transferred directly to their bank accounts before Diwali. The assistance will cover farmers who have suffered crop losses exceeding 33%.
The advance is part of a broader relief package that the state government plans to announce after completing its assessment of drought-related damage. The government has also identified 3.5 lakh farmers for a proposed loan waiver, with the process currently underway.
The drought has severely affected water availability, particularly in the Marathwada region, where groundwater levels have fallen by more than three metres. To address the crisis, the government plans to deploy adequate water tankers fitted with GPS tracking systems to improve monitoring and prevent misuse. More than 16,000 illegal water connections have already been disconnected.
The state government has also directed banks and microfinance institutions not to forcibly recover loan instalments or electricity bills from affected farmers. In addition, it will directly procure fodder and encourage farmers to grow fodder crops to ensure adequate feed for livestock.