New Delhi, Sept. 26 -- The Maharashtra government on Saturday declared 265 of the state's 358 talukas drought-affected, covering nearly 74 per cent of the state, and announced a package of relief measures for farmers and rural communities.

The measures include restructuring of crop loans, concessions on land revenue, postponement of recovery of agriculture-related loans and electricity bill relief for agricultural pumps in the affected areas.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has instructed district collectors to immediately begin assessing crop damage in the drought-hit talukas. The government said farmers would remain at the centre of its relief and rehabilitation efforts.

According to a government resolution issued late o...