India, Sept. 29 -- Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday announced that crop damage assessments will be extended to the mandal, or circle, level to ensure financial assistance reaches farmers whose areas were left out of the state's drought list despite suffering genuine crop losses.

Speaking to reporters after a state cabinet meeting, Fadnavis said special provisions had been approved to examine crop damage in areas that do not meet the prescribed drought thresholds but have nevertheless suffered significant agricultural losses.

The Maharashtra government has declared 265 of the state's 358 talukas as drought-affected, covering around 74 per cent of the state. The declaration has triggered crop-loss assessments and o...