States » WestPosted at: Sep 18 2026 4:21PM


Govt already taken steps to alleviate drought: Fadnavis

Mumbai, Sep 18 (UNI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told media persons on Friday that his government has already taken necessary steps to alleviate the drought in the state.
“The state government has already taken necessary steps to alleviate the drought. The implementation of the loan waiver is underway in the state, and arrangements for drinking water and fodder for animals are also being made on a war footing. After the monsoon season ends on October 5, a damage assessment will be done, and then the process of getting National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) assistance will be started. The government will not leave the farmers in the lurch,” Fadnavis said.
Fadnavis made the statement at a press conference to announce the setting up of foreign universities in the state, after NCP founder Sharad Pawar wrote to Fadnavis, urging him to declare a drought in the state.
In his letter to Fadnavis, Sharad Pawar stated that inadequate rainfall in 31 of the state’s 36 districts has destroyed standing crops like soybean, cotton, and pulses, while drastically reducing sowing areas and creating an acute shortage of drinking water and fodder.
Pawar demanded that the government must declare a drought without waiting for official formalities and provide immediate relief to the affected regions.
He also sought Rs 50,000 per hectare for farmers and Rs 25,000 each for farm labourer families as special assistance, besides immediate implementation of a farm loan waiver scheme as well as fresh crop loans for farmers.
During the press conference, Fadnavis stated that under the new National Education Policy (NEP), foreign universities have been allowed to set up campuses in India.
“As part of the new education policy, as many as 7 foreign universities, including the University of Western Australia, will come to Maharashtra and their campuses have been inaugurated recently. A grand ‘Educity’ complex is being built in Navi Mumbai, where around 1 lakh students will be able to receive world-class education,” Fadnavis said.
Fadnavis also criticised serious allegations levelled by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi against the BJP and the Election Commission that there is a nexus between the two organisations to split opposition parties and take away their election symbols.
“Rahul Gandhi is making such baseless allegations only to hide his own and the party’s defeat. The main objective of his anarchist mentality is to destroy the trust of the common people in the Indian Constitution and the democratic institutions of the country,” Fadnavis said at the press conference. UNI BA SAS
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