Fadnavis Seeks NDRF Aid from PM Modi for Flood-Hit Maharashtra Farmers

September 26, 2025

New Delhi: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide substantial relief from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to support farmers devastated by heavy rains and floods across the state.

Speaking to reporters after an hour-long meeting with the Prime Minister in New Delhi, Fadnavis said he had submitted a memorandum outlining the extent of crop and property damage.

“I have requested him to provide the state with substantial help through the NDRF,” the Chief Minister said, adding that PM Modi responded positively and assured every possible assistance once the state’s proposal is received.

Relief for Farmers

Fadnavis highlighted that over 31 districts in Maharashtra have been severely hit, with more than 50 lakh hectares of agricultural land damaged.

Torrential rains have not only ruined crops but also impacted the livelihoods of lakhs of farmers.

So far, the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) has allocated ₹2,215 crore for immediate relief, but the CM stressed that maximum NDRF support is essential to cover crop loss, assist affected families, and restore damaged houses and infrastructure.

Opposition parties in Maharashtra have also pressed for the immediate declaration of a “wet drought” and demanded ₹50,000 per hectare in financial aid for farmers.

PM Modi’s Upcoming Visit

While clarifying that PM Modi has no plans to visit flood-hit regions immediately, Fadnavis said the Prime Minister is scheduled to be in Maharashtra on October 8–9 to inaugurate the Navi Mumbai International Airport, the final stretch of the underground Metro-3 corridor, and launch several development projects ahead of the civic polls.

Defence Corridor & Steel City Proposal

Apart from relief efforts, Fadnavis presented a roadmap for the Maharashtra Defence Corridor, proposing hubs in Pune, Ahilyanagar, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nashik, Dhule, Nagpur, Wardha, and Amravati. He also pitched the idea of developing Gadchiroli as India’s new “Steel City”, focusing on green steel production. According to him, the Prime Minister reacted positively to both proposals.