Food Inspector pumped out 21 lakh liter water from reservoice to search his expensive mobile phone

Raipur
A food inspector from Pakhanjur in Kanker district of Chhattisgarh allegedly pumped out 21 lakh litre of water from a reservoir after his expensive mobile phone accidentally fell into it while taking selfie with friends. The foot inspector used 30HP pump to empty the reservoir to find the mobile phone cost of which was said to be Rs 1 lakh.
The Kanker district collector has suspended the food inspector after the matter came to light on Friday as the officer did not seek permission from the competent authority.
Food Inspector Rajesh Vishwas had gone to Paralkot reservoir in the area for outing with his friends on May 21 when his mobile phone accidently fell into the waste weir structure.
The officer first asked the local villagers to search for the mobile phones but in vain. He then used motor pump to dry up the water in the reservoir.
Kanker district collector Priyanka Shukla sought a report after suspending the food inspector.
The district collector also issued show cause notice to Sub Divisional Officer of water resources department R C Dhiwar for allegedly giving verbal permission to drain out water from the structure.
The collector’s order reads that the food inspector vacated about 21 lakh liters of water from storage structure.
The foot inspector misused his position to search his mobile phone and therefore, he has been placed under suspension with immediate effect, reads the collector’s suspension order.
Giving verbal permission to release water without seeking permission from senior officials comes under the category of misconduct, the order issued by the collector said.
The SDO has been asked to furnish a reply within a day and warned of disciplinary action if he fails, it added.
According to the suspended food inspector, he had gone to the dam with his friends and while taking a selfie his phone fell in the tank that stores overflow water from the dam.
He said that he used the pump to empty the water on the suggestions of the villagers who told him to drain out 3-4 ft water and then they can find the phone which had important departmental information. “I talked to the SDO of the irrigation department and he gave me oral permission,” he said.
Meanwhile, BJP vice president and former chief minister Dr Raman Singh slammed the ruling Congress and said under the Bhupesh Baghel government, the officials have been considering the state like their ancestral property.