Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal has demanded that the state government immediately declare a drought, provide Rs 50,000 per hectare to affected farmers and announce a complete farm loan waiver, citing prolonged dry spells and crop losses in several parts of the state.
Sapkal alleged that some areas had received little or no rainfall for nearly one-and-a-half months, leaving standing crops to wither in the fields. In a statement, he accused the Mahayuti government of failing to take concrete measures to address what he described as a serious agrarian crisis.
“The government should declare a drought immediately and deposit Rs 50,000 per hectare into farmers’ bank accounts and announce a complete loan waiver,” Sapkal said. He added that the Congress would not allow ministers to move around the state if immediate action was not taken.
Sapkal alleged that the state government had been discussing the drought situation in cabinet meetings but had not taken concrete decisions. He also claimed that guardian ministers had not visited farmers affected by the prolonged dry spell. These allegations were made as calls for drought relief widened in Maharashtra.
Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar chief Sharad Pawar has also recently sought a drought declaration, financial assistance of Rs 50,000 per hectare for affected farmers and a loan waiver, along with other relief measures.
The state government has acknowledged drought-like conditions in parts of Maharashtra. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on September 19 that a preliminary assessment would be completed within a week. He said this would be followed by crop surveys and assistance measures. Arrangements were also being considered for drinking water, fodder and additional power supply for farmers, according to the report.
Sapkal also urged the government to consider cloud seeding and provide substantial assistance before Dussehra. His demand places the focus on the administrative process that determines whether drought conditions are formally declared and how relief reaches affected farming households.
The Congress leader separately criticised celebrations held on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday on September 17, arguing that such events were inappropriate while people faced economic and social difficulties. He also raised concerns about unemployment, women’s safety, inflation and the functioning of the Election Commission. Those comments formed part of his wider political criticism and were separate from the drought-relief demands.
The immediate official milestone is the state government’s preliminary assessment within a week, after which crop surveys and decisions on assistance, drinking water, fodder and power supply are expected to proceed.
