residents of three talukas in the state’s Gondia district have demanded their exclusion While politicians and farmers have been pressing for their areas to be included in Maharashtra’s drought-hit list.
Balbodhe said farmers had informed the district administration that they were willing to forgo the benefits announced for drought-hit areas if irrigation supply was restored. Some villages have passed resolutions in their gram sabhas supporting the demand, while farmers have submitted representations to the administration. The villagers contend that although the drought-hit classification brings several benefits and concessions, it also entails water cuts and restrictions that affect rabi cultivation. Restrictions imposed by the district administration on releases from dams have, they say, left canals supplying water for rabi and summer crops dry. Paddy is the principal crop in Gondia and a major source of income for farmers. Residents have also expressed concern that water shortages in forests could drive wild animals into villages. “Human-wildlife conflict is a major problem in our area. Wild animals have already started entering human settlements. This is a major loss for farmers. Villagers claim that their talukas received excess rainfall and that dams overflowed during the monsoon. “We have sufficient water, and there was no need to include these three talukas in the drought-hit list. The classification has adversely affected farming, particularly the cultivation of paddy, wheat and chana.
Farmers, their organisations and villagers have written to the district collector seeking the removal of their talukas from the list of 304 drought-hit talukas. We do not even want the cash assistance of ₹ 5,000 announced by the government, as our losses from being unable to grow rabi crops exceed the benefits offered. They were added in the second phase, after the initial list of 265 talukas.
Because of restrictions on water releases from dams, “We have been unable to cultivate rabi crops, particularly paddy,.
With restricted water flow in the canals and vegetation drying up, they will increasingly venture out of the forests in search of water and food,” said Lalit Balbodhe, president of the Annadata Dhan Utpadak Sanghtana. We met our guardian minister, Indraneel Naik, and submitted a memorandum seeking exclusion,” he said. Several villages have passed resolutions seeking exclusion,” said Gangadhar Parshuramkar of the Kisan Sanghtana.
With drought conditions expected to worsen following deficient monsoon rainfall, the state government last month directed district administrations to strictly monitor water use. Urban and rural local bodies were instructed to impose a minimum 10% water cut from October 16, 2026. As many as 32 of Maharashtra’s 36 districts are facing drought conditions following deficient rainfall. restrictions on irrigation supply have affected farming even in areas that received adequate rainfall Although the government has extended 12 benefits and concessions to 304 drought-hit talukas.
