Maharashtra imposes water cuts as WMO warns El Nino will intensify

The Maharashtra government has announced a minimum 10 per cent water cut starting October 16 due to worries over low water storage and drought risks. The World Meteorological Organization warns that the current El Nino will intensify before peaking in December and is nearly certain to last until February 2027. The UN climate body states this will push up global temperatures and alter rainfall patterns, raising drought and flood risks. The India Meteorological Department expects El Nino to bring below-normal rain from October to December. The 2026 southwest monsoon already ended with a 12.6 per cent rainfall deficit. These conditions threaten farms, forests, and oceans, while major reservoirs sit below normal capacity and multiple states report drought-affected areas.

Context

El Nino is a natural climate pattern that warms the equatorial Pacific Ocean and disrupts weather worldwide, often weakening the Indian summer monsoon. India relies heavily on its monsoon for agriculture and water reserves, making timely management of reservoirs and crops vital during dry years.