https://sputniknews.in/20230526/chattisgarh-officer-drains-21-lakh-litres-from-reservoir-to-find-lost-phone-2181281.html
Chattisgarh Officer Drains 21 Lakh Litres From Reservoir to Find Lost Phone
Chattisgarh Officer Drains 21 Lakh Litres From Reservoir to Find Lost Phone
Sputnik India
A senior government official from India's Chattisgarh state was suspended on Friday after being instructed to drain out 2.1 million liters of water from a reservoir to recover his Samsung 23.
2023-05-26T18:28+0530
2023-05-26T18:28+0530
2023-05-26T18:28+0530
political affairs
india
heatwave in india
water scarcity
water contamination
water dispute
water pollution
viral
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A senior government official from India's Chattisgarh state was suspended on Friday after being instructed to drain 2.1 million litres of water from a reservoir to recover his Samsung 23. Rajesh Vishwas, now suspended, is a food officer in the Koilbeda block of the Kanker district. On Sunday, he was visiting Kherkatta Dam with his friend on a picnic when he accidentally dropped his phone while taking a selfie.Locals dove into the reservoir and tried to find his smartphone, however, as the reservoir was 15 feet deep, divers suggested draining 3-4 feet of water and then it would be easier for them to get to the bottom. Vishwas reached out to the Irrigation Department for a solution, where it was verbally agreed to drain up to five feet of water. On Monday, a 30-horsepower pump was deployed to drain the reservoir's water, resulting in the discharge of the stored water used for irrigation. The 2.1 million litres of water were drained for three days. The water could have easily helped to irrigate 1,500 acres of farmland. After the draining was stopped on Thursday, the dam had less than six feet of water."The Kanker Irrigation Department gave verbal permission to empty 3-4 feet of water…. No farmer was affected by my action", said Vishwas.Meanwhile, the phone, which has since been recovered, is not working anymore.
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chattisgarh, water drained out for phone, official drain out 2 million liters of water to recover his phone, kherkatta dam, rajesh vishwas, koilbeda, kanker
chattisgarh, water drained out for phone, official drain out 2 million liters of water to recover his phone, kherkatta dam, rajesh vishwas, koilbeda, kanker
Chattisgarh Officer Drains 21 Lakh Litres From Reservoir to Find Lost Phone
Deexa Khanduri
Sputnik correspondent
Parts of Central India, including Chattisgarh, are battling with scorching summers and heatwaves with little or no rainfall. Even if the water is not fit for drinking (as claimed), people living in rural areas use reservoir water for cleaning and washing their animals, etc.
A senior government official from India's Chattisgarh state was suspended on Friday after being instructed to drain 2.1 million litres of water from a reservoir to recover his Samsung 23.
Rajesh Vishwas, now suspended, is a food officer in the Koilbeda block of the Kanker district. On Sunday, he was visiting Kherkatta Dam with his friend on a picnic when he accidentally dropped his phone while taking a selfie.
Locals dove into the reservoir and tried to find his smartphone, however, as the reservoir was 15 feet deep, divers suggested draining 3-4 feet of water and then it would be easier for them to get to the bottom.
Vishwas reached out to the Irrigation Department for a solution, where it was verbally agreed to drain up to five feet of water.
On Monday, a 30-horsepower pump was deployed to drain the reservoir's water, resulting in the discharge of the stored water used for irrigation.
The 2.1 million litres of water were drained for three days. The water could have easily helped to irrigate 1,500 acres of farmland.
After the draining was stopped on Thursday, the dam had less than six feet of water.
When the media reached out to Vishwas, in his defense, he said that the water pumped out was "wastewater unfit for irrigation".
"The Kanker Irrigation Department gave verbal permission to empty 3-4 feet of water…. No farmer was affected by my action", said Vishwas.
As the incident went viral, Kanker senior official Priyanka Shukla ordered a report and issued a show-cause notice saying Vishwas had misused his position to search for his mobile phone. "[...] lakhs (hundreds of thousands) of litres [of water was drained] in the summer season, which is unacceptable. [...] he has been placed under suspension immediately", the suspension order stated.
Meanwhile, the phone, which has since been recovered, is not working anymore.
