In Pictures: The Tap Runs Dry for Many in India on World Water Day

People in Maharashtra deal with water shortage on a regular basis.

Villagers filling water in Maharashtra. (Photo Courtesy: Subrata Biswas/Greenpeace)

Indian cities have been relatively shielded from the water shortage that plagues a large part of the country. Delhi, only recently, felt the heat from a looming water shortage. The threat and subsequent disruption of water supply from Haryana, however temporary, altered the political mood of the capital.

But, think about the people who have to regularly walk several kilometres to get just a pitcher of water.

The images below capture the daily struggle and pain of those people, for whom the water crisis is a harsh reality to live with. They simply don’t have a choice.

A migratory shepherd family during their journey near Ausa, Latur district Maharashtra. (Photo Courtesy: Subrata Biswas/Greenpeace)

Villagers filling water in Khomnal village of Mangalwheda Taluk, Solapur district in Maharashtra. (Photo Courtesy: Subrata Biswas/Greenpeace)

Dried, parched land is a common sight in many regions of Maharashtra due to the poor rainfall in 2015 and the subsequrnt drought. (Photo Courtesy: Subrata Biswas/Greenpeace)

Khomnal village pond at Mangalwheda taluk, Solapur district which usually has water around the year. However, as of today, the pond is completely dry. (Photo Courtesy: Subrata Biswas/Greenpeace)

A dried canal at Sohale village, Mohol taluk, Solapur district in Maharashtra, made for carrying supplying to remote villages from the Ujjani dam runs dry. (Photo Courtesy: Subrata Biswas/Greenpeace)

Barrels for water storage are selling at a high rate as the State Government of Maharashtra has already declared 15,747 villages of 12,183 Gram Panchayats in 21 districts as drought affected, under relevant State regulations in October 2015. (Photo Courtesy: Subrata Biswas/Greenpeace)

NTPC power plant under construction in Solapur district, Maharashtra. (Photo Courtesy: Subrata Biswas/Greenpeace)

A women walks through Khomnal Village pond at Mangalwheda taluk, Solapur district in Maharashtra. (Photo Courtesy: Subrata Biswas/Greenpeace)