<span style="color: #222222;">Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said all necessary assistance will be provided to farmers affected by unseasonal rains. He said the assistance will be provided on the lines of drought relief, adding that the first instalment will be disbursed in cash soon. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Chief Minister made the announcement after a meeting of all guardian ministers held in Mumbai, to assess crop losses. He also ordered formation of an Employment Guarantee Scheme for cleaning of farmlands destroyed by excessive rains. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Describing unseasonal rains as a rare event in the last forty years, Mr Fadnavis said measures like providing food security and early disposal of farm loss cases by insurance companies will be ensured to support farmers.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />'' Speaking to reporters after the meeting, State Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar informed that unseasonal rains have damaged standing crops on over 70 lakh hectares in Maharashtra, affecting about 60 lakh farmers. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said cotton grew on about 19 lakh hectares and soybean sown on 11 lakh hectares has suffered total damage. Mr Mungantiwar said banks have been asked not to impose any penalty for delayed payment of farm loans. He added that the government will provide all necessary help to farmers to ensure that the sowing of Rabi crops is not delayed.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />'' Despite a stalemate over government formation, the Shiv Sena, too, participated in the meeting and demanded that an immediate compensation of twenty-five thousand rupees per hectare be released to all the affected farmers. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Speaking to reporters, Shiv Sena leader and State Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam said delay in government formation should not delay payment of compensation to farmers. He said insurance companies must also release compensation under farm insurance scheme at the earliest. He added that government must also consider compensation for fishermen by the rains, especially in Konkan region.</span><br />''