In spite of being the second largest arid land in the country, Karnataka has been a blessed state with plenty of rainfall in catchment areas and reservoirs over years. not any longer. failure of mansoons and consecutive years of drought have made water sources disappear from several villages and districts, leading to severe crisis gripping the state.

A case in study is Kolar distric in southern Karnataka, which is the subject of this Photo Gallery, conceived and produced by K. venkatesh. Situated about 100 KM from Bangalore, showcased as india's Silicon Valley and a city of gardens, a bone dry Kolar in contrast is a picture of misery, writ large on its inhabitants, with official apathy adding to water woes.

Indiscriminate use of rain water and gross exploitation of water bodies over the years have turned hundreds of lakes, ponds and man-made water tanks in about 3000 villages into dry beds, with parched farm lands staring in the face.

With about 150,000 bare wells and tubewells across the districs going virtually dry, thousands of farmers have been struggling to raise crops or grow fodder for the cattle.

To make matter worse, unscheduled power cuts and low voltages have rendered the remaining bore wells and tube wells ineffective, as powerfull pumps fail to draw water from even depth of over 1000 ft. bellow.

In several villages and towns dotting the district, acute shortage of potable or drinking water has turned into and alarming situation; with might is right becoming the norm for even a few drops. Ironically, where fetching a pot of precious water has bcom a battl of nerves, th availibility of bottled soft drinks or colas in many towns and villages is a harsh reality of the times we live in.

Th magntd of the water crisis is compounded by the indifference of the local authorities, which has failed over the years to evolve a mechanism to either store water or preserve water bodies for their natural regeneration.