Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited flood-hit areas in Latur on Wednesday and promised full support to farmers battling heavy rains and river overflows. He made it clear that the state government stands firmly with those affected, offering aid to every farmer without any strict eligibility checks. “We’ll distribute this help before Diwali,” Fadnavis said.
The crisis has hit hard across parts of Maharashtra, where cloudburst-like downpours triggered flooding that wrecked crops and swept away fertile soil. Fadnavis personally checked the damage in Ujani village in Ausa taluka and Aurad Shahajani in Nilanga taluka, chatting directly with farmers about their struggles.
He outlined broad relief plans, including scarcity aid for heavy rain impacts. Farmers will get compensation not just for lost crops but also for damaged homes, shops, and other property ruined by floodwaters. On Tuesday, the government already greenlit the first Rs 2,200 crore installment from the relief fund, with more funds coming soon based on detailed damage reports.
In Ujani, Fadnavis announced two key infrastructure boosts: a new bridge over the Terna River to link Ausa and Tuljapur talukas, and a road connecting Ujani village to the national highway. At Aurad Shahajani—right on the Maharashtra-Karnataka border where the Terna and Manjara rivers meet—he heard firsthand from farmers about devastating losses to moong, urad, maize, soybean, and other crops. “Don’t worry, the government will provide full assistance,” he reassured them.
To tackle future floods, Fadnavis revealed plans for stronger defenses, like building protective walls, upgrading old barrages with modern gates, and adding new ones to manage sudden water surges. He also eased damage assessments by allowing drone surveys and mobile phone photos as official evidence in hard-to-reach spots, speeding up the panchnama process.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar toured flood-damaged villages in Solapur, Dharashiv, and Beed districts, focusing on hits to farms and homes from the relentless rains. Power outages have plagued Marathwada and parts of western Maharashtra, so Pawar ordered the state electricity firm MahaVitaran to act fast. He called MahaVitaran MD Lokesh Chandra to prioritize restoration on a war footing, pulling in extra workers from nearby districts and rushing transformers to key areas.
In a show of solidarity, Maharashtra BJP chief Ravindra Chavan said party MPs and MLAs will donate one month’s salary to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to help flood victims rebuild.
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