Full Breakdown
Maharashtra Declares Drought in 265 Talukas Amid Severe Rainfall Deficit
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Core Event: Statewide Drought Declaration
On September 25, 2026, Maharashtra’s Relief and Rehabilitation Department declared drought in 265 of the state’s 358 talukas, activating “Trigger-1” under the Drought Management Code 2016. District collectors were ordered to begin panchnamas—field surveys that photograph crops and record GPS coordinates—to assess damage and guide relief distribution.
Background & Context
The monsoon from June 1 to September 26 delivered 798.2 mm of rain, an 18 % shortfall against the 970.9 mm average. Deficits were sharp in Marathwada (up to 48 % below normal in Latur) and Vidarbha (41-57 % in several districts). A strengthening El Niño has been linked to the low rainfall, and prolonged gaps between rain spells—sometimes exceeding three weeks—exacerbated soil moisture loss.
Data & Statistics
- Statewide deficit: 18 % (June 1 – Sept 26).
- District deficits: Solapur 57 %, Beed 49 %, Hingoli 48 %, Jalna 46 %, Dharashiv 45 %, Akola 41 %.
- Talukas declared drought-hit: 265 across Thane, Nashik, Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Amravati, Nagpur divisions.
- Marathwada’s overall deficit: 38 %; Konkan recorded 74-85 % of normal.
- Water-tankers in Marathwada: 277 serving 160 villages; only three are government-owned.
On-the-Ground Reports
Farmers describe fields of withered bajra, soyabean, onion and maize. Balasaheb Awati of Parner village says wells 70-80 ft deep have run dry and his multi-crop harvest is destroyed. In Sakri taluka, Nimbabai Brahmane notes a 22-day dry spell left groundnut pods undeveloped. In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Badrinath Bharat spends INR3,000 daily on water tankers to keep a ginger crop alive, while Sachin Bilwal pays INR1,000 per tanker for a week’s supply for his family and cattle.
Official Statements & Responses
Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne said the 12 relief measures under Trigger-1 apply automatically, with additional assistance for crop losses to be announced after the surveys. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule confirmed the Water Resources Department is studying a possible 10 % cut in urban water supply and that drinking water and fodder will be prioritized in drought-hit villages. Employment Guarantee Minister Bharat Gogawale announced an allocation of INR6,728 crore for water-conservation and rural-infrastructure projects. Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil pledged that dam storage will first meet drinking-water needs, then irrigation, and proposed direct-benefit transfers for livestock fodder.
Criticism & Opposition
Nationalist Congress (Secular) leader Sharad Pawar demanded a drought declaration in every taluka, a three-day legislative session and immediate relief before Diwali, including INR1 lakh per hectare for farmers. State Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal called for a lump-sum compensation of INR50 000 per hectare and urged a “war-footing” response. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray argued the relief package should be implemented swiftly and noted the drought’s impact on urban water security.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Rainfall deficit figures vary: most sources cite an 18 % shortfall, while ThePrint reports 18.8 % based on data up to September 18. District-level deficits also differ across outlets. The timing of compensation for crop losses remains unclear, as the resolution postpones financial assistance until panchnama results are submitted.