Government official fined for draining water reservoir to retrieve phone he dropped
RAJESH VISHWAS – An Indian food inspector made headlines after ordering to drain the Kherkatta Paralkot reservoir following the accidental dropping of his Samsung S23 phone, valued at Rs 96,000 or PHP 65,236.82, into the water.
Rajesh, 32, was taking a selfie during a picnic with friends when the unfortunate incident occurred. His phone slipped from his grasp and fell into the water. Panicked, Rajesh immediately contacted the Irrigation Department to devise a plan for retrieving the phone. He claimed that the device contained sensitive government data, which added urgency to the situation.
Initially, divers were deployed to search for the phone, but their efforts proved unsuccessful. As a result, a 30-horsepower pump powered by diesel was used to drain the water from the reservoir. This operation lasted three days until all the water, estimated to be around two million liters, was successfully removed. Ironically, this water could have been used for irrigation purposes, benefiting 1,500 acres of land.
Rajesh defended his decision to drain the reservoir, arguing that the water was unsuitable for irrigation. He claimed to have obtained permission from a senior official to carry out the action. Rajesh emphasized that it was the villagers who insisted on retrieving his phone from the reservoir. Unfortunately, despite the cost of approximately Rs 7,000-8,000 (PHP 5,436.40) to recover the phone, it no longer powered on, leaving Rajesh disappointed considering he had purchased it just two months earlier.
As a consequence of his actions, Rajesh faced suspension from his agency due to the criticism received for wasting a significant amount of water. India, being a country with high water demand, suffers from water scarcity, crop failures, forest fires, and frequent power outages, making the situation even more concerning.
The Water Resources Department imposed a fine of Rs 53,092 (PHP 36,078.68) on Rajesh, stating that his actions not only wasted water but also violated the Irrigation Act of India, leading to penalties. He was given a 10-day period to pay the fine.
Authorities are currently investigating to determine which officials allowed Rajesh to drain the reservoir. It was also discovered that this was not the first time Rajesh faced suspension, as he was previously suspended in 2021 for alleged misconduct in rice distribution.
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