Fadnavis meets Amit Shah in Delhi over drought, seeks maximum NDRF aid for Maharashtra
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis says the Union Home Minister assured all necessary help, and a Central team will tour drought-hit areas from October 8 to 11.
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Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Wednesday as the drought situation in Maharashtra has turned serious. The meeting discussed the state of the drought, the assistance currently being given to farmers and the financial support sought from the Centre.
Fadnavis asked the Centre to give Maharashtra the maximum financial assistance under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). He briefed Shah on the condition of the drought-hit areas and the measures the state government is taking. He also submitted a memorandum to the Centre on behalf of the state government.
Drought has been declared in 265 of the state's 358 talukas. Deficient rain has caused heavy crop losses in many areas and left farmers in distress. The state government has announced various concessions and relief measures for drought-hit areas.
Fadnavis said that for the Centre's assistance to reach drought-affected farmers and citizens, coordination between the Centre and the state is necessary.
A Central team will come to Maharashtra to inspect the drought-hit areas first-hand. The team will tour the affected areas of the state from October 8 to 11 and review the situation there. The inspection will assess how severe the drought is and how much damage has been caused. The Centre will decide on assistance on that basis.
Fadnavis said Shah assured that the Central government would extend all necessary help to the state in the drought situation. He also made it clear that the Centre and the state government would work together and try to give relief to drought-hit farmers and citizens.
After the meeting, Fadnavis posted on the social media platform X that he had sought maximum assistance for Maharashtra from the Centre. He also noted that the Centre had responded positively.
Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar, president of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), has also toured drought-hit areas and interacted with farmers. He has demanded that drought-hit farmers be given immediate help.
