Maharashtra Sets up Cabinet Panel to Fast-Track Drought Relief, Preliminary Notification Expected by Saturday

The Maharashtra government on Tuesday constituted a cabinet sub-committee headed by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule to oversee the drought situation, assess crop losses and expedite relief measures for affected farmers.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the committee has been given cabinet-level powers and will meet every week to review reports from drought-hit areas and take decisions on measures required on the ground. Major policy matters, however, will continue to be placed before the full state cabinet.

The sub-committee includes ministers Girish Mahajan, Gulabrao Patil, Sanjay Rathod, Pankaja Munde, Dattatray Bharne, Jaikumar Gore, Pratap Sarnaik, Makarand Patil and Babasaheb Patil, among others. Chief Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal will be its secretary.

Fadnavis said immediate action was needed as drought-like conditions have affected large parts of Maharashtra. Soybean, maize and cotton crops have suffered significant damage in several areas, while paddy in parts of Konkan and jowar have also been affected.

The government has ordered crop-loss assessments through panchnamas to establish the extent of damage and determine the assistance required by farmers. The assessments will also form the basis for seeking financial assistance from the Centre, where necessary.

“A preliminary notification on drought relief is expected by Saturday,” according to a brief of the cabinet decisions issued by the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. Ministers will visit affected areas to assess conditions directly and help speed up the delivery of relief.

Fadnavis said the sub-committee would examine complaints and issue directions based on ground-level assessments. He also said he, along with the two deputy chief ministers, would review the committee’s reports every week and take decisions at the senior level. The chief minister is also expected to visit some drought-affected areas.

Ensuring drinking water and fodder availability has been identified as an immediate priority. The government said arrangements were being made through local bodies to maintain water supplies in affected areas and address the needs of livestock.

The cabinet also decided to withdraw the revised staffing structure of the agriculture department and temporarily retain the structure approved in 2009.

Before a fresh staffing proposal is prepared, the agriculture department will undertake a comprehensive assessment of its workload, manpower availability, vacant positions, cadre-wise requirements and field-level machinery. The review will also take into account the workload generated by farmer-focused schemes and future administrative requirements.