A government officer in Chhattisgarh has been suspended and another is facing a pay cut following an incident where 21 lakh litres of water were drained from a reservoir over three days to retrieve an expensive phone. Rajesh Vishwas, a food officer, accidentally dropped his phone, valued at Rs 96,000, into the 15-foot-deep water while clicking a selfie. Later, he claimed that the water was unsuitable for irrigation and obtained permission from a senior official to drain it.
Unable to retrieve the phone, Vishwas resorted to using a 30-horsepower pump to drain the reservoir. The draining process lasted for three days, wasting 21 lakh litres of water. This quantity of water could have been used to irrigate approximately 1,500 acres of farmland. Ultimately, Vishwas managed to find the lost phone; however, it had become non-functional after being submerged for three days.
The authorities took action against the officers involved, with one officer being suspended and the other facing a reduction in salary. The incident has drawn criticism for the irresponsible use of a vital resource like water, raising concerns about the officials’ judgment and their disregard for the potential agricultural implications.
