As the state of Maharashtra reels under a severe drought, one is seeing a strange occurrence in the district of Thane. The farmers in its villages are resorting to polygamy, so that there are more hands to fill and carry water from wells that are over two hours from their villages.

One such family, where the farmer and his three wives have lived happily for over 30 years now. The family said it was a practical solution to the acute water problem the village had been facing for decades.

For the farmers, more wives meant more hands to carry water, because it takes at least four hours for a single person to carry two pots of water from the only well near the village.

One of the women inside the house said, "One lady takes care of the house and two of us go to fill water. We make two trips a day so getting water takes up all our time."

The farmer (name withheld) himself said, "Water is available only for one month after the monsoon. For the rest of the year we have to walk four-five hours to get water."

They are not alone. Even though having multiple wives is illegal, it is a trend followed by many in their village.

What is worse is that the Bhatsa resevoir that supplies water to Mumbai, is barely 5 km from their village.

The villagers have threatened to damage the pipeline carrying water to Mumbai on May 12, if their demands for a separate pipeline for their village are not met with.