Sisodia alleges Chinese manja file delayed, LG office denies charge

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday alleged that delay in clearing the file relating to ban on Chinese manja (kite string) occurred at the LG office but Najeeb Jung's office, denying the charge, said the file was received on August 8 and not August 5 as stated by the minister.

Sisodia in a press conference here asserted that Delhi government had not delayed the file regarding ban on Chinese manja -- which has caused several deaths.

Displaying the File Movement Register's copy to the media, Sisodia said the file was sent to the LG office on August 5 and they got it back on August 9.

"I received the file at 3.57 p.m. on August 9 and seeing the importance of this matter I cleared it within a few seconds."

Sisodia said the file was cleared by the Delhi Environment Minister and the Chief Secretary on the same day.

"It was sent to the office of Environment Secretary on August 10. The file was kept for seven days there," he added.

"The delay was not on our part but it took four days at the LG's office and seven days at the environment secretary's office," Sisodia said.

Hours after Sisodia's claim, Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung's office in a statement clarified that it received the file on August 8 and cleared it and sent it back the next day.

"It is clarified that the said file was received in the Lt. Governor's office on August 8 (Monday) and after due approval, it was sent back on August 9 (Tuesday) to the office of Deputy Chief Minister," a statement from Jung's office said.

Sisodia also wrote a letter to Jung on Wednesday seeking action against the Environment Secretary for causing delay in issuing the draft notification to ban Chinese manja in the city.

The use of Chinese manja claimed the lives of two children and a 22-year-old man in the past few days.

To protect birds and prevent fatal accidents, the Delhi government on Tuesday banned nylon, plastic and Chinese 'manja' and any other sharp kite-flying strings.

--IANS

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