Rain god put on notice for poor monsoon

Had the Karnataka government waited a little longer before issuing a directive to perform a special puja in temples across the state to invoke the rain gods - reporte-dly at a cost of Rs 17 crore - it would have perhaps realised that there are cheaper means to bring showers. 

 Deities, it seems, can be ‘terrorised’ into showering their blessings.In Uttar Pradesh’s Hardoi district, an official notice had been issued to Lord Indra, the god of rain, asking him to explain within three days the reasons behind the lack of rain in the district, failing which stern action will be taken against him. The notice, which bears the stamp and signature of Savayajpur sub-divisional magistrate Satya Prakash Sharma was issued a few days back with a direction to the revenue clerk to serve it personally.

The notice tells Indra that clouds keep hovering over Savayajpur but they never pour, causing huge difficulties for the people. “You have been luring the residents with dark clouds but you have so far not asked them to burst on them,” it said. “You must submit your written explanation within three days.

 If you do not send a satisfactory explanation within the stipulated period it would be presumed that you have nothing to say and stern action would be taken against you for which you would be solely responsible,” the notice added. Clerk Swatantra Kumar, who received the notice through a departmental messenger, was shocked when he came to know that it was to be served to Lord Indra. But Kumar, an old hand, knew only too well how to save his skin.  

He returned the notice with a remark that since there was no ‘acknowledgement’  — an attached piece of paper on which the recipient signs saying that he has received the notice — it could not be served.  While the notice could be a prank played by someone in the SDM’s office, the senior officials have taken it seriously and ordered a probe. The SDM has denied having issued any such notice. “It is a serious issue and needs to be probed thoroughly. Even if the SDM did not issue the same, it still should be investigated,” said district’s chief development officer A K Dwivedi.