Congress legislature party leader Vijay Wadettiwar on Wednesday urged the Maharashtra government to immediately declare a “wet drought” and extend financial relief of ₹50,000 per hectare to affected farmers.
In a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Wadettiwar said heavy rains in August and September devastated crops across 30 districts, impacting nearly 17.85 lakh hectares of farmland. He added that farmers, who have not received loan waivers, are left with neither standing crops nor financial stability, making urgent assistance critical.
Highlighting the severe losses in Marathwada and Vidarbha, Wadettiwar said soybean, maize, and cotton fields were destroyed, with the upcoming Rabi season also under threat. He demanded that the government halt loan recoveries, direct insurance companies to expedite compensation, and roll out relief measures without delay.
He criticised the state cabinet for failing to take a decision in its recent meeting, leaving farmers disappointed. “The government must complete crop loss assessments quickly, declare a wet drought, and announce immediate assistance,” he stressed.
According to government data, Marathwada, which typically records deficient rainfall, received 717.4 mm between June and September 17—around 118% more than its seasonal average of 607.6 mm.
