Untimely rains damage Rabi crops on 13,729 hectares spread across 8 districts of Maharashtra: Deputy CM Fadnavis

Fadnavis, though, assured that directives have been issued to district officers to provide immediate financial assistance and relief to farmers.

“The preliminary reports across the state show standing Rabi crops on 13,729 hectares dotted across eight districts have been adversely hit by unseasonal rain, hailstorm, and lightning,” Fadnavis said.

The districts which have taken the maximum brunt are Nashik, Jalgaon, Ahmednagar, Dhule, Palghar, Buldhana, Akola and Washim. The crops that have been damaged include wheat, harbara (Bengal gram), and mangoes.

After the Holi break, the budget session resumed Wednesday on a stormy note with Opposition parties staging a protest on the steps of the Vidhan Bhawan demanding financial compensation for farmers. The members of the Congress, the NCP, and the Shiv Sena (UBT), among others, were part of the protest.

Opposition leader Ajit Pawar also raised the issue of crop loss caused by the untimely rains.

“The state government should provide adequate compensation to the farmers immediately,” Pawar said.

State Congress chief Nana Patole said, “The state government should set aside all other listed businesses and take up discussions on farmers’ issues in the House.”

Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said, “When people were celebrating the Holi festival, farmers were trying to cope with the havoc created by rain and hailstorm that left them financially wrecked.”

On Tuesday, the state government directed district officials to expedite the process of panchnama to evaluate crop loss.