The state government has asked for a relief package from the central government which is yet to be released.
Hence the BJP government in the state ahead of the general elections has decided to start offering compensation from its own fund to the affected farmers rather than waiting for Centre relief package.
The procedure for the same may take another one month to complete.
The state government on Tuesday had directed all the district collectors to prepare detailed list of affected cultivators within 15 days to start the process.
The decision was taken in the cabinet subcommittee on drought headed by Relief and Rehabilitation Minister, Chandrakant Patil, informed the officials from relief and rehabilitation department.
It has also asked for financial assistance worth Rs.
7962 crore from the Centre, of which, Rs.
7103 crore is for crop damage, Rs.
But following uproar by farmer organisations and opposition parties over leaving out affected villages from the list, Maharashtra decided to include another 318 revenue circles as drought affected.
As per NDRF norms, growers who sow crop on non-irrigated land are entitled to get compensation of Rs.