Palghar, Oct 14 The Maharashtra government has declared tribal-dominated Jawhar, Mokhada and Talasari talukas of Palghar district as drought-affected for the kharif season 2026, the local administration said on Wednesday.
This outcome reflects a sustained, collective effort by local authorities who documented ground realities and submitted comprehensive reports to the government, the district administration said in a release.
With this declaration, several relief measures and concessions have been approved for farmers and tribal families in the three affected talukas in the district located adjoining Mumbai, said the release.
This announcement follows a Government Resolution (GR) encompassing 305 drought-impacted talukas across Maharashtra (out of total 358 or over 85 per cent of the state) with Palghar selected among the districts within the Konkan division.
The declaration complies with the criteria established in the Drought Management Manual 2016, fulfilling benchmarks due to a significant rainfall deficit recorded from June through the end of the monsoon period, said the release.
The relief measures approved for farmers and tribal families in the three drought-hit talukas include land revenue concessions, crop loan restructuring, and the postponement of agricultural loan repayments, it said.
Electricity charges for agricultural pumps above 7.5 horsepower have been waived, and power supplies to agricultural pumps in scarcity-hit areas will remain uninterrupted.
Furthermore, school and college examination fees for students have been waived, Employment Guarantee Scheme rules have been relaxed to maximize local village employment, and drinking water arrangements for citizens and livestock are being executed as per government directives alongside foodgrain and fodder distribution, stated the release.
District Collector Indu Rani Jakhar stated that survey teams will immediately initiate assessments (panchanamas) in Jawhar, Mokhada, and Talasari by photographing crop conditions and recording GPS coordinates to generate prompt crop situation reports for the Commissioner of Agriculture.
(PTI News)
