Pune: Tanaji Sawant Directs Officials to Conduct Comprehensive Crop Damage Assessments; Agriculture Minister Bharne Reviews Rain-Hit Farms

Pune/Washim, 20th August 2025: As heavy rainfall continues to batter several districts across Maharashtra, reports of extensive crop damage are surfacing, prompting urgent demands from farmers for government compensation.

Former minister and sitting MLA from Bhum-Paranda constituency, Tanaji Sawant, has instructed revenue officials to ensure that no village is left out in crop loss assessments. Calling Paranda’s tehsildar from Pune, Sawant directed that comprehensive panchanamas (damage surveys) be carried out across all affected villages.

“Do not exclude a single group, hamlet, or village. Conduct damage assessments across the constituency. I will raise the issue of farmer assistance with the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers,” Sawant told the official in a phone conversation. A video of this directive, circulated by his supporters, has gone viral on social media.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Agriculture Minister and Guardian Minister of Washim district, Dattatray Bharne, visited rain-affected villages in Washim on Tuesday. Braving heavy showers, Bharne reached farmlands on a motorcycle to inspect crop losses firsthand.

According to preliminary reports, unseasonal downpours have severely affected over 4.11 lakh acres of farmland across 350 villages, with Nanded and Washim emerging as the worst-hit districts. Isolated cases of human casualties have also been reported.

Speaking during his tour, Bharne assured farmers that the state government would extend all possible help. “I am personally reviewing the crop losses in Washim today. A detailed report will be submitted to the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers for immediate relief measures. We will also approach the central government to seek financial assistance for affected farmers,” he said.

Bharne, also scheduled to chair a review meeting on the flood situation later in the district.