Maharashtra forms drought panel and clears 291 crore rupee relief for farmers

The Maharashtra government has set up a high-level committee to oversee soil and water conservation projects in drought-affected areas. The Chief Minister will head this committee to address drought and flood-related distress following deficient rainfall during 2026.

Committee Details

All Deputy Chief Ministers will serve as co-chairpersons of the new panel. Other members include ministers from departments like agriculture, water resources, rural development and employment guarantee. A separate executive committee, led by the Principal Secretary of the Water Resources Department, will meet at least once a month. Officials will track progress using satellite imagery, geographical information systems, mobile tools and online dashboards. Soil and Water Conservation Minister Sanjay Rathod stated that the committee will also monitor projects done by non-governmental organisations, including Paani Foundation and Chandra Foundation. The state will revive Paani Foundation's Water Cup competition to bring local communities into water conservation work. Deficient rainfall in parts of the state led the government to declare drought in talukas found under the Kharif season's Trigger-1 assessment.

Financial Relief

The government approved ₹291.91 crore in total financial help for farmers hit by heavy rain and floods between June and August 2026. Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Makarand Jadhav Patil said ₹262.70 crore was sanctioned for crop damage affecting 3,09,289 farmers across six revenue divisions. These divisions are Pune, Nagpur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Amravati, Konkan and Nashik. Another ₹29.21 crore was cleared for damage to agricultural land covering 7,675.40 hectares belonging to 34,984 farmers. This money helps pay for removing sand, silt and salt deposits left by floods. Compensation for crop damage will go straight into the bank accounts of eligible farmers. Small and marginal landowners will get help for damaged land up to a limit of two hectares. District collectors must also ensure that banks do not use this relief money to clear pending loan repayments.

Context

State governments often step in with direct financial help and administrative oversight when extreme weather hits the farming sector hard. Coordinating through dedicated committees and technology helps track relief funds and conservation projects across large regions. These relief measures aim to support rural livelihoods during major weather challenges.