Uddhav Thackeray has demanded immediate drought declarations in at least 20 districts and 100 talukas of Maharashtra, along with cash assistance of Rs 50,000 per hectare, a complete loan waiver and a special session of the state legislature to discuss relief measures.
Speaking at a press conference on the drought-like situation, the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief also asked the government to hold Cabinet meetings in affected areas such as Solapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Vidarbha instead of conducting them only at the state secretariat in Mumbai. His demands were reported by Loksatta – Mumbai.
Thackeray said the government should not use eligibility criteria or the Centre’s assistance as a reason to delay action. He alleged that farmers affected by the crisis were waiting for clarity on when relief would reach them, while governments at the Centre and in the state were making announcements about loan relief and drought declarations without delivering a concrete response.
The demands include formally declaring drought in the areas identified by Thackeray, providing direct financial assistance to farmers and implementing a complete loan waiver. The report does not provide an official response from the Maharashtra government to the demands, nor does it include an official assessment confirming the number of affected districts or talukas.
Thackeray also referred to the state’s recent experience with extreme weather. He said parts of Marathwada had faced severe damage from excessive rainfall last year, including the washing away of agricultural land. According to the report, the Chief Minister had then announced a relief package of Rs 31,000 crore, described as the largest such package announced up to that point, including Rs 3.5 lakh per hectare for land that had been washed away.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader questioned how much of that package had actually reached farmers and called for the information to be made public. The question places implementation and payment tracking alongside the immediate demand for drought relief. The report does not state the amount disbursed from the package or provide government data on beneficiaries.
A special Assembly session, if convened, would provide a formal setting for the government to present its assessment of the drought-like situation, explain the criteria used for declarations and detail the relief mechanisms available to affected farmers. Thackeray’s stated demand is that the session be called immediately and that Cabinet meetings be held in drought-affected regions.
