Mumbai, Sep 21 (UNI) Maharashtra will officially declare the state as facing 100% drought by the end

Mumbai, Sep 21 (UNI) Maharashtra will officially declare the state as facing 100% drought by the end of September, Co-operation Minister Babasaheb Patil said on Monday, as criticism mounted over the government's response to worsening agrarian distress and relief measures. Addressing a press conference here, Patil described the prevailing dry spell as one of the worst he had witnessed in his lifetime. He said major Kharif crops, including soybean, cotton and sugarcane, had suffered extensive damage. He affirmed that financial assistance would be disbursed strictly in accordance with National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) norms. Replying to queries regarding the temporary…