Maharashtra declares drought in 265 talukas amid rainfall deficit

After the Maharashtra government declared 265 of the state’s 358 talukas drought-affected amid a rainfall deficit and prolonged dry spells, the Opposition on Saturday demanded swift implementation of relief measures for farmers facing crop losses and other affected people.

The government declared 265 talukas drought-affected and announced relief measures, including restructuring of crop loans and deferment of recovery of agriculture-related loans. 

According to a government resolution issued late on Friday, the drought declaration covers 74 per cent of the state. Most of the affected talukas are in Solapur, Ahilyanagar, Nashik, Latur, Beed,



Buldhana, Amravati, Yavatmal, Nagpur and Chandrapur.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, while touring drought-hit areas of Marathwada, said his party had been demanding that drought be declared and maintained that the decision should have been taken earlier.

Referring to the activation of “Trigger One” by the government, the Congress said the ground situation was already worse than what was prescribed under “Trigger Three”.

Trigger One is the first stage in the state’s drought framework and is activated when there is a rainfall deficit of more than 25 per cent combined with a prolonged dry spell of 21 days.