India, Sept. 17 -- Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday assured farmers that the state would conduct crop loss surveys after October 5 and provide financial assistance from its own funds while awaiting aid from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).

Fadnavis was speaking to reporters after attending the flag-hoisting ceremony marking Marathwada Liberation Day. He said preparations for the crop loss surveys had already begun, even though the exercise could only be formally conducted after October 5 as per rules, and pledged that the government would stand firmly with farmers during the crisis.

The assurance follows Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule's statement on Monday that a drought-like situation had d...