State Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar in an RTI reply said the government collected Rs 406.70 crore and Rs 930.60 crore, respectively, as drought cess from the sale of petrol and diesel since September 30 last year.
"The government needed additional revenue sources as more than half of the state is reeling under severe drought for the last three years. Thus, we had decided to collect a drought cess to help the people in drought-stricken areas," he said.