Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, urgently pleading for aid to farmers battered by recent heavy rains and flooding across the state. Handing over a detailed memorandum alongside his deputy chief ministers, Fadnavis laid bare the scale of crop losses and devastation, pressing for robust support through the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). “We’ve briefed the PM on the flood situation and requested full assistance,” Fadnavis told reporters, noting Modi’s call for a formal state proposal to expedite relief.
Beyond the crisis, Fadnavis pitched bold economic plans, presenting a blueprint for a transformative defence corridor in Maharashtra to spark job creation and economic growth. Potential hubs include Pune-Ahilyanagar-Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nashik-Dhule, or Nagpur-Wardha-Amravati, building on Rs 60,000 crore already invested in defence manufacturing. The corridor could draw Rs 3-5 lakh crore more, he projected. Fadnavis also pushed to make Gadchiroli a steel production powerhouse, proposing mines for the Gadchiroli Mining Corporation to produce “the cheapest steel in India,” even undercutting China, with a focus on eco-friendly “Green Steel.” Modi responded constructively, per the CM.
The meeting also touched on upcoming high-profile events, with Modi set to visit Maharashtra on October 8-9 to inaugurate the International Fintech Festival alongside British PM Keir Starmer, plus the Navi Mumbai International Airport and Metro-3 projects. Fadnavis revealed a state proposal to name the airport after D.B. Patil. Additionally, he met Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan to bolster ties.
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On the BJP’s promised farmer loan waiver, Fadnavis confirmed a committee is reviewing its rollout to maximize impact, as repetitive waivers aren’t sustainable. “Our priority is immediate financial aid for farmers’ accounts to cover kharif crop loans due next year,” he stressed, signaling swift action to ease rural distress.
The defence and steel proposals, if greenlit, could reshape Maharashtra’s economic landscape, while urgent farmer aid remains critical amid nature’s wrath. Fadnavis’s Delhi dash underscores a state in need, banking on Modi’s backing to deliver relief and ambition in equal measure.
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