Authorities pass buck over Manjha ban issue

Authorities today continued to pass the buck over the manja ban issue with the Delhi government accusing the Lt Governor and Environment Secretary of causing delay in issuing draft notification even as the LG questioned the assertions.
Lt Governor Najeeb Jung has sought an explanation from Environment Secretary Chandraker Bharti after Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia wrote to him seeking action against the officer for the delay in issuing the draft notification banning the sale and production of glass-coated thread in the national capital.
Addressing a press conference with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal here, Sisodia alleged that file tracking note shows that the Chinese manja file was with Jung for four days and the Environment Secretary for seven days.

However, the LG office issued a statement asserting that it had received the file from the government on August 8 and sent it back to Deputy CM's office on August 9. It questioned the draft notification, saying it would not have served its purpose as rules require inviting suggestions from public before issuing the final notification after 60 days.
AAP government, however, insists that it had ordered a ban on Chinese kite strings with immediate effect in the draft notification itself.
The Deputy CM claimed that in view of the notification's importance, the file on Chinese manja was cleared by Environment Minister Imran Hussain, his office and Chief Secretary's office within seconds

"Our Environment Minister had cleared the file from the hospital on August 5 as he and his wife were diagnosed with dengue and thereafter my office and CS office cleared the file within a few seconds and sent it to the LG office.

"On August 9, LG gave his nod, but file was with environment secretary for seven days," the Deputy Chief Minister said.
Meanwhile, Jung has demanded an explanation from the
Environment Secretary hours after Sisodia wrote to him and sought disciplinary action against the officer.
In his letter, Sisodia said, Bharti had "failed" to issue the notification before the Independence Day despite the fact that Environment Minister had on August 5 approved the same and thereafter Lt Governor had given his nod to it, and termed it as "gross negligence" of primary duty by the senior civil servant."

The LG office also stated that the government has not placed the final notification for approval of the Lt. Governor, which would eventually and strictly ban the use of Chinese manjha.
A senior government official said as the LG is the administrative head, he has the responsibility of seeking any clarification from any officer concerned.
On August 15, kite strings claimed lives of two children and a 22-year-old man after their necks got slit, while a Delhi Police sub-inspector was injured.
"The lack of timely action by the Secretary Environment Chandrakar Bharti has resulted in unfortunate loss of a precious life on the outer ring road on August 5," Sisodia said in the letter.

Yesterday, the Kejriwal government issued a draft notification banning sale, production and storage of Chinese manja. Violation of directions will be punishable with imprisonment of up to five years or fine which may be extended to Rs 1 lakh or with both.
The Deputy CM said safety of Delhiites is non-negotiable for the AAP government, and that kite flying though dangerous is a popular activity in Delhi, especially during the festive season of Independence Day, Raksha Bandhan and Makar Sankranti.