Mumbai, Sep 16 — With the monsoon taking a prolonged break, Kharif crops across Maharashtra are facing a severe crisis, pushing several districts to the brink of drought.

During Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and several ministers expressed deep concern over the situation. Although no immediate relief package was announced, CM Fadnavis instructed state administrative machinery to stay on high alert.

Following Cabinet discussion, the government clarified that a formal drought declaration cannot be made immediately. Under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) guidelines and Central Drought Management norms, official crop-damage surveys (Panchnamas) and ground verification must be conducted after October 5 to qualify for financial relief. Premature surveys would risk disqualifying farmers from central aid packages. Conducting assessments before that date would disqualify the affected farmers from official relief aid and result in an inaccurate estimation of damage. The government is currently preparing a comprehensive list of relief measures for farmers, and officials have been urged to coordinate effectively. This was stated by the agriculture department in its presentation, government sources have said.

The Cabinet reviewed regional reports indicating severe dry spells (ranging from 20 to over 40 days) across 18-19 districts, with Marathwada, Vidarbha, and Western Maharashtra being the hardest hit.

Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule and the CM instructed all District Collectors and field administration to remain on high alert and prepare preliminary relief proposals. The local administration across affected districts (especially in Marathwada) has been ordered to prioritise and reserve existing dam storage strictly for drinking water purposes to prevent potential urban and rural water crises.

While waiting for the official October 5 survey window, the government is drafting emergency relief lists, evaluating fodder supply availability for livestock, and instructing agricultural departments to guide farmers on protective irrigation for the surviving Kharif crops.

According to the compilation made by the state agriculture department on region-wise crop status, in Beed, 37.21 per cent of the sown area has been damaged; in Jalna, 27.83 per cent; and 7.06 per cent in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

In Latur, Dharashiv, and Parbhani, soybean, green gram (moong), black gram (udid), and cotton crops on light soils are drying up.

A widespread outbreak of the Yellow Mosaic virus on soybean crops has also been detected. Long dry spells across rain-fed tracts of Solapur, Satara, Sangli, and Ahilyanagar from Western Maharashtra have put severe stress on moong, udid, soybean, maize, and bajra crops. Yields in these regions are expected to drop by 20 to 25 per cent.

In the Vidarbha region, Soybean and cotton crops face significant risk. Several talukas in Amravati, Akola, Buldhana, and Washim have reported a 2 to 3-week spell without rain.

Soybeans on light soil have withered; farmers with irrigation facilities are using protective watering to save crops. Paddy transplantation has been delayed in parts of Nagpur, Chandrapur, and Gadchiroli due to deficient rainfall. In North Maharashtra, Nandurbar and select talukas of Nashik, the lack of rain has stunted the growth of maize, cotton, and other crops.

However, recent rains in parts of Dhule and Jalgaon have brought partial relief to Kharif crops. Nandurbar has received only 46.6 per cent of its normal rainfall.

Severe rainfall deficits are reported in Solapur, Kolhapur, Beed, Latur, Dharashiv, Parbhani, Hingoli, Akola, Washim, Amravati, Wardha, Nagpur, and Chandrapur.

Meanwhile, opposition leaders -- including Vijay Wadettiwar and Solapur MP Praniti Shinde from the Congress, and the Shiv Sena(UBT) leaders -- have demanded the immediate declaration of drought in the affected districts. They highlighted that 19 districts and over 83 tehsils face severe rainfall deficits and looming fodder and water shortages.

The opposition has urged the state government to issue an immediate emergency relief package, waive crop loans, and set up fodder camps and tanker water supply without waiting for formal post-monsoon timelines.

Mahayuti coalition leaders, including NCP MLA Dhananjay Munde, have also written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis requesting a drought declaration for the hard-hit Marathwada region.

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