In a shocking incident in Chhattisgarh, a food inspector has been suspended after draining a staggering 21 lakh liters of water from a reservoir to recover his expensive smartphone. The incident has raised serious concerns about the misuse of resources and the individual’s disregard for the importance of water conservation.
The food officer in question, Rajesh Vishwas, was on a holiday at the Paralkot Reservoir of Kherkatta Dam when he accidentally dropped his phone, worth ₹1 lakh, into the stilling basin of the dam’s waste weir. Determined to retrieve his phone, Vishwas resorted to extreme measures by employing two large 30-hp die30-pumps to continuously drain water for three days. This resulted in an astonishing 21 lakh liters of water being emptied from the reservoir, an amount sufficient to irrigate 1,500 acres of farmland.
This act of blatant negligence and abuse of power has not only drawn criticism but has also had severe implications for the local community. The reservoir, which typically maintains a water depth of over 10 feet even during summers, serves as a vital source of water for irrigation purposes and sustains local wildlife. Furthermore, the water is channeled through a canal and used by nearby farmers, making its conservation crucial for agricultural activities.
Vishwas defended his actions by claiming that his phone contained official departmental data and that the drained water was “unusable.” He asserted that locals had attempted to locate the phone in the deep water but had failed, suggesting that a shallower depth would have facilitated their efforts. According to Vishwas, he sought verbal permission from the Sub Divisional Officer (SDO) to drain a few feet of water into the nearby canal, with the understanding that it would benefit farmers.
However, subsequent investigations revealed that the SDO had initially authorized a maximum drainage depth of five feet, but a significantly larger amount of water was removed. This led to further scrutiny and prompted the Superintendent Engineer of the Indravati project to demand an explanation from the SDO, questioning why the cost of the wasted water should not be deducted from his salary. The engineer emphasized the importance of preserving water levels in reservoirs for essential activities like irrigation, particularly during the summer season.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for responsible and accountable behavior, especially when it comes to conserving precious resources like water. It highlights the potential consequences that can arise from individual actions, which may have far-reaching effects on communities and the environment. Authorities must take appropriate action to ensure that such incidents are not repeated, and strict measures should be implemented to prevent the misuse and depletion of vital resources in the future.
