Maharashtra Prepares for El Niño: Fadnavis orders water management measures

Officials indicated May temperatures may remain relatively moderate, but more frequent heatwave conditions could occur during the period.

Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne said officials have held detailed discussions to prepare for potential challenges from erratic rainfall, including planned fertiliser distribution, fodder stocks, re-sowing seeds, and effective farm pond implementation with plastic lining provided to farmers.

Fertiliser distribution should be linked with the AgriStack system, with monitoring strengthened using artificial intelligence to ensure timely availability and transparency.

Measures to prevent fodder shortages were outlined, including fodder cultivation in dam backwater areas and special attention to Solapur, Sangli and the Marathwada region.

District-level task forces including district collectors, irrigation officials and local self-government representatives were tasked to oversee water conservation and related measures.

If rainfall drops below 90 percent, it would significantly impact drinking water and agriculture; preparations must begin now and planning should cover this year and the next summer.

He called for prioritising water conservation works under the Rural Work Guarantee Act to ensure optimal utilisation of available funds.

The CM directed that works under the Jalyukt Shivar Yojana and the Galmukt Dharan, Jalyukt Shivar programme be taken up on priority and completed on a large scale, with immediate fund allocation by the finance department.

The India Meteorological Department said El Niño is likely to peak in August–September with below-normal monsoon rainfall; officials noted a positive Indian Ocean Dipole could partly offset adverse effects.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis chaired a high-level review meeting and directed all departments to prioritise water management, expedite conservation works, and ensure coordinated preparedness against El Niño.

He recalled that lessons from 2015 helped protect crops in 2018 through timely interventions, but Marathwada faced stress due to long dry spells between showers.

Fadnavis noted that in 2015 water storage in the state was only 45 percent after the monsoon, highlighting the need for planning before the monsoon this year.