The Chhattisgarh government on Friday suspended a food officer for the colossal waste of water in the peak of summer at Paralkot reservoir in Kanker district. He allegedly drained out 41 lakh litres of water from a weir after his mobile phone fell into it, an official order said. Food inspector Rajesh Vishwas, posted in Pakhanjore area of the district, had gone to the reservoir for an outing with his friends on May 21 when his mobile phone fell into a waste weir, a channel that carries away surplus water, while taking a selfie. Vishwas allegedly roped in villagers and got diesel pumps to empty the water from the weir till his mobile phone was retrieved on Thursday, he said.

After the matter came to fore, Kanker Collector Priyanka Shukla sought a report in this regard, following which the official was suspended. The Collector also issued a show-cause notice to the sub-divisional officer (SDO) of the water resources department, RC Dhivar, for allegedly giving verbal permission to drain out the water. A official report said 4,104 cubic meters or 41 lakh litres of water was emptied from the structure without permission from the authorities -- just to look for a mobile phone. “This is unacceptable. For the aforementioned act, he has been placed under suspension with immediate effect," the order said. The SDO has been asked to furnish a reply within a day and warned of disciplinary action if he fails.

Collector Shukla said she has also written to the Secretary of the water resources department seeking action against SDO Dhivar.