Mumbai, June 15: Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) has raised alarms about a severe drought threat looming over Maharashtra as the state continues to experience extreme heat without the arrival of the monsoon.
In an editorial published in the party’s mouthpiece, ‘Saamana,’ it was noted that rising temperatures in the Pacific Ocean have exacerbated the situation. Additionally, crucial factors for rainfall in the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Indian Ocean remain neutral, increasing the risk of intensified El Niño effects. Experts warn that this natural crisis could represent the strongest El Niño impact seen in the last 150 years, signaling a period of reduced rainfall and severe drought. Farmers, citizens, and the government must prepare urgently for this impending crisis.
The editorial stated that the first half of the Mrig Nakshatra period is nearing its end, yet there are no signs of monsoon rains across Maharashtra. The traditional onset date of the monsoon, June 7, has passed, and now, on June 15, the absence of rain and the ongoing heatwaves are beginning to show early signs of severe drought.
The editorial pointed out that while the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) had already issued warnings about the activation of dangerous El Niño weather patterns, scientific predictions and historical examples often fall short against nature’s unpredictability. Unfortunately, this time, dire forecasts are proving to be alarmingly accurate.
It further mentioned that hopes were raised in the first week of June when the monsoon arrived on time in the Andaman Islands and typically progressed from Kerala to Karnataka. There was widespread expectation that the threat from El Niño would diminish, allowing the monsoon to reach Mumbai and western Maharashtra on schedule, ultimately bringing significant rainfall to Marathwada and Vidarbha. However, after June 6, the weather pattern shifted abruptly. The monsoon’s progress slowed significantly and stalled at the Maharashtra-Goa border.
The editorial emphasized that the WMO’s predictions of prolonged delays and reduced rainfall are turning into a harsh reality.
It stated that the complete absence of monsoon rains this year has halted sowing activities across Maharashtra. The region is experiencing one of the hottest summers in the last 40 to 50 years. The editorial highlighted that intense heatwaves have scorched farmland, dried up wells, emptied countless lakes, and reduced the total water storage in the state’s dams to a critical level of just 25 percent.
Describing the severity of the situation, the editorial noted that water levels in 3,028 small and large dams across Maharashtra have fallen dangerously low. The seven major reservoirs supplying water to Mumbai now hold only 12.48 percent of their total capacity.
Due to the alarming drop in water levels, the Maharashtra government’s water resources department has halted water supply for agricultural purposes. The remaining water is being conserved solely for drinking.
The Thackeray faction stated that the government has advised farmers not to rush into sowing based on sporadic rainfall but to wait until sufficient and consistent moisture is present in the soil.
Experienced farmers understand the risks and typically refrain from sowing until two to four heavy rains occur to avoid the economic losses associated with re-sowing. However, the lack of early monsoon rains has stalled work in rural areas. The editorial concluded, “Far from sowing, there are no visible preparations for farming in rural areas ahead of the monsoon.”
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