Mumbai, Sept. 24 -- Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday demanded that the Maharashtra government immediately declare drought on a taluka-wise basis, convene a special session of the state legislature and create a dashboard detailing relief measures for farmers, saying the government should "look at the drought" rather than wait for favourable predictions or assessments.

Addressing a press conference, Thackeray criticised the Maharashtra government over the drought-like situation in several parts of the state and questioned the pace of crop-loss assessments, compensation, loan waivers and water-supply measures.

"Don't look at the almanac, look at the drought. The government should declare it taluka-wise. Take a session qui...