Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, announced the formation of a Cabinet Sub-Committee to oversee drought relief measures across several districts of Maharashtra, with the panel empowered to take immediate decisions without waiting for Central Government funds. A preliminary notification declaring drought-like conditions is expected to be issued officially by Saturday.

Sub-Committee Composition and Powers

The sub-committee is chaired by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule and includes nine other ministers spanning water resources, agriculture, rural development, and relief portfolios. The full panel comprises Girish Mahajan (Water Resources and Disaster Management), Gulabrao Patil (Water Supply and Sanitation), Sanjay Rathod (Soil and Water Conservation), Pankaja Munde (Animal Husbandry), Dattatray Bharne (Agriculture), Jaykumar Gore (Rural Development), Pratap Sarnaik (Transport), Babasaheb Patil (Co-operation), and Makarand Jadhav Patil (Relief and Rehabilitation). Chief Secretary Rajesh Agarwal will serve as Member Secretary. Notably, the sub-committee has been vested with full cabinet powers, allowing it to authorise relief packages and allocate resources without convening the entire cabinet.

Crop Damage and Agricultural Impact

The weekly cabinet meeting reviewed rainfall data, reservoir water levels, and agricultural conditions statewide. According to the state government, major crops including soybean, maize, and cotton have suffered extensive damage. Paddy fields in the Konkan region have also been severely impacted. Official crop damage assessments — panchnamas — have been directed to begin from Wednesday across all affected districts, with primary data collection already reportedly underway.

What the Government Said

Fadnavis, speaking to the media after the cabinet meeting, said the state would extend immediate assistance to affected farmers without waiting for financial aid from the Centre. He added that the state would simultaneously submit a formal proposal for relief funds based on National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) norms to the Central Government. Fadnavis said he would personally begin inspecting drought-affected areas from Wednesday and directed ministers and elected representatives to undertake ground visits to assess damage firsthand.

Drinking Water and Fodder Priority

The government has identified drinking water supply and livestock fodder as priority concerns for the next seven to eight months. Coordination for these two critical needs will be handled through Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, and local self-government bodies. This focus signals that the administration is planning beyond the immediate crop-loss response, acknowledging that drought conditions tend to stretch into the dry months ahead.

What Happens Next

Ministers are set to begin touring drought-affected regions from Wednesday. The sub-committee will determine relief packages based on field data gathered through statewide panchnamas. A preliminary drought declaration is expected by Saturday. This comes amid growing calls from farmers' organisations across Maharashtra for swift state action, as erratic rainfall this season has disrupted the kharif crop cycle across multiple agro-climatic zones.