Hingoli, Sep 28 (PTI) The Maharashtra government has cancelled leaves of officers and employees from 11 departments involved in drought management and directed them to attend field duty for crop damage assessment, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said on Monday.
He said nearly 75 per cent of Maharashtra is facing drought-like conditions, with soybean among the worst-affected crops.
The state government on Saturday declared drought in 265 of its 358 talukas amid rainfall deficit and announced various relief measures, including crop loan restructuring, land revenue concessions, and power bill subsidies.
The minister is on an assessment tour in Arati village in Hingoli district.
“CM Devendra Fadnavis has constituted a cabinet sub-committee to assess the situation, following which its members are visiting affected areas to evaluate crop losses.
“The government will examine assistance available under crop insurance and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) norms and consider the higher eligible benefit, subject to applicable provisions,” Bawankule said.
He said the financial assistance would be decided only after the assessment reports are consolidated, cautioning that announcing relief without a comprehensive evaluation could leave some affected farmers out.
During his tour, Congress workers stopped the minister’s convoy, creating tension.
They submitted a memorandum seeking immediate relief for farmers and action against the Chief Election Commissioner over the SIR process. PTI COR NSK
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.