Maharashtra's Plea for Aid: CM Shinde Seeks Substantial Central Support After Devastating Unseasonal Rains

Maharashtra is reeling from an agricultural crisis as unseasonal rains and devastating hailstorms have swept across the state, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. In response to the widespread devastation, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has made an urgent and heartfelt appeal to the Central government, seeking substantial financial assistance to help the beleaguered farmers recover from their immense losses.

The calamity has particularly hit the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions, where vast expanses of agricultural land have been ravaged.

Farmers, already grappling with the unpredictable nature of weather, now face the heartbreaking reality of severely damaged standing crops. Essential produce like wheat, jowar, gram, cotton, onion, grapes, mango, banana, papaya, and watermelon have been extensively impacted, threatening livelihoods and food security.

Chief Minister Shinde’s commitment to his state's farmers is evident in his swift actions.

He personally visited the worst-affected districts, including Aurangabad, Jalna, Buldhana, and Nashik, to undertake a first-hand assessment of the damage. During these visits, he offered assurances of full support, promising that the state government would stand firmly by the farmers in their time of need.

Following his ground inspections, the Chief Minister promptly penned a detailed letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, outlining the scale of the disaster and reiterating the critical need for Central intervention.

Further demonstrating the state's proactive approach, CM Shinde convened a crucial review meeting in Aurangabad.

Here, he issued strict directives to district officials to expedite the 'panchnama' — the meticulous process of assessing crop damage – ensuring that no affected farmer is overlooked. He emphasized that relief and rehabilitation operations are being executed on a war footing, aiming to bring immediate succour to those who have lost not only their crops but also their homes and precious livestock.

While the state government is diligently providing assistance in accordance with National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) norms, CM Shinde underscored that the magnitude of the current crisis necessitates a more robust and substantial package of support from the Centre.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis echoed this sentiment, reiterating the government's unwavering commitment to farmers and urging officials to complete damage assessments without delay.

The sheer scale of the unseasonal rainfall highlights the severity of the situation. Districts such as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar recorded a significant 20.30 mm of rainfall, Jalna 19.40 mm, Buldhana 17.50 mm, and Nashik 17.10 mm.

This widespread precipitation, coupled with hailstorms, has created an unprecedented challenge for the agricultural sector across numerous districts including Dhule, Nandurbar, Beed, Akola, Wardha, Washim, Yavatmal, Nagpur, Latur, Parbhani, Hingoli, Nanded, Satara, Solapur, and Ahmednagar.

As Maharashtra grapples with this agricultural calamity, the unified voice of its leadership underscores a dire need for comprehensive and timely central assistance to rebuild livelihoods and restore hope for thousands of farmers across the state.