Mumbai, Sep 22 (IANS): Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday announced the establishment of a Cabinet Sub-Committee, chaired by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, to oversee and implement measures addressing drought-like conditions in several parts of Maharashtra.
Speaking to the media after chairing the weekly cabinet meeting, Fadnavis said the state government would extend immediate assistance to affected farmers without waiting for financial aid from the Central Government. He added that a preliminary notification declaring drought-like conditions would be officially released by Saturday.
During the meeting, ministers reviewed rainfall data, reservoir water levels and the overall agricultural situation across the state. Fadnavis noted that primary data collection regarding the drought situation was already underway. To facilitate swift decision-making, the newly formed Cabinet Sub-Committee has been vested with full cabinet powers.
The sub-committee, chaired by Bawankule, includes Girish Mahajan (Minister for Water Resources & Disaster Management), Gulabrao Patil (Minister for Water Supply & Sanitation), Sanjay Rathod (Minister for Soil & Water Conservation), Pankaja Munde (Minister for Animal Husbandry), Dattatray Bharne (Minister for Agriculture), Jaykumar Gore (Minister for Rural Development), Pratap Sarnaik (Minister for Transport), Babasaheb Patil (Minister for Co-operation) and Makarand Jadhav Patil (Minister for Relief & Rehabilitation). Rajesh Agarwal, Chief Secretary, will serve as Member Secretary.
The panel will determine relief packages and measures based on statewide field data. Official crop damage assessments (panchnamas) are directed to begin tomorrow. Major crops including soybean, maize and cotton have suffered extensive damage, while paddy fields in the Konkan region have also been severely impacted.
Fadnavis said he would personally begin inspecting affected areas starting tomorrow and directed ministers and elected representatives to visit the ground to assess the damage. He added that the state would submit a formal proposal for relief funds based on NDRF norms to the Central Government.
Special focus will be placed on drinking water supplies and livestock fodder over the next seven to eight months, coordinated through Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and local self-government bodies.
Fadnavis concluded that ministers would begin touring drought-affected regions from tomorrow, the Cabinet Sub-Committee had been granted full authority to make immediate relief decisions, crop damage assessments would start statewide, and priority allocation for drinking water and fodder supply would begin immediately without waiting for central assistance.
