Maharashtra govt braces for possible El Nino impact, Devendra Fadnavis calls for effective water management

The Maharashtra government has stepped up preparedness measures to tackle a possible impact of El Nino with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directing departments to prioritise water management conservation works and coordinated planning ahead of the monsoon reported PTIState gears up with advance planning and coordinationChairing a highlevel review meeting Fadnavis emphasised the need for proactive measures to mitigate the potential effects of erratic rainfall He called for better planning of available water resources faster execution of conservation projects and immediate repair and rejuvenation of existing water bodies reported PTIOfficials were instructed to ensure strong coordination between departments to respond effectively to emerging challengesIMD warns of belownormal rainfall rising heat risksAccording to the India Meteorological Department the impact of El Nino is expected to peak during August and September with forecasts indicating belownormal rainfall during the monsoon season reported PTIWhile temperatures in May may remain relatively moderate authorities have warned of an increased likelihood of heatwave conditions Officials also noted that a positive Indian Ocean Dipole could partially offset adverse weather effectsLessons from past drought years highlightedFadnavis pointed to the 2015 El Nino year when water storage levels dropped significantly despite the monsoon He noted that current storage levels are already comparable to premonsoon levels seen during that period underlining the need for timely intervention reported PTIHe added that lessons from previous years including improved crop protection strategies must guide current planning especially in droughtprone regions such as MarathwadaWater conservation schemes to be fasttrackedThe Chief Minister directed that key initiatives such as the Jalyukt Shivar Yojana and related programmes be implemented on priority with immediate allocation of funds reported PTIHe also called for accelerating projects under the Rural Employment Guarantee framework to maximise water conservation efforts across districtsDistrictlevel task forces will be set up involving administrative officials and local bodies to monitor implementation and ensure accountabilityFocus on agriculture fodder and irrigationHighlighting the risks to agriculture Fadnavis stressed the importance of protective irrigation to reduce crop losses during dry spells He warned that rainfall below 90 per cent of normal could severely impact both drinking water supply and farming reported PTISpecial attention has been directed towards ensuring adequate fodder availability for livestock particularly in vulnerable regions such as Solapur Sangli and Marathwada Authorities have been asked to promote local fodder cultivation to reduce dependence on external supplyFertiliser supply and farmer support measuresAgriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne said the department has initiated preparations to minimise disruption during the kharif seasonHe stressed the need for timely fertiliser supply and monitoring of distribution channels to prevent shortages Plans are also in place to ensure seed availability in case of resowing and to strengthen farm infrastructure including the use of farm ponds reported PTIEmphasis on longterm water securityFadnavis underscored that planning must not be limited to the current monsoon but should also account for the next summer He called for efficient storage and judicious use of water resources to ensure longterm resilienceThe state government has indicated that it is fully prepared to respond to emerging challenges and aims to minimise the impact on farmers and rural communities through early and coordinated actionWith inputs from PTI