The blame game between the AAP government, the Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) and the bureaucrats over the delay in banning of manja , glass-coated thread used for flying kites, has taken a new twist.
It turns out that in June 2015, the Delhi’s Environment Department had moved a file asking the government to notify the ban on manja , but the AAP government didn’t do so.
As per the file notes, a copy of which is with TheHindu , the department had suggested a ban on manja : “… it is proposed to issue directions to concerned authorities, in the form of a gazette notification, to impose a ban on manja in exercise of powers conferred under Section 5 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986”.
The deaths of three people on Independence Day as a result of accidents involving manja had prompted the Delhi government to ban the thread. But before it did so, the AAP government had blamed the L-G and then the bureaucrats for the delay in banning the item.
The AAP government claimed it had cleared the file for the ban on August 8.
Raj Niwas then issued a clarification and the Environment Secretary was blamed for the delay, prompting Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia to ask for an inquiry against the official.
In the Delhi Assembly session held on Monday, when Mr. Sisodia was asked about the file from the environment department, the deputy Chief Minister skirted the question and blamed the Centre for not putting a blanket ban on the import of Chinese manja .
“Even if we ban manja in Delhi, people can get it from neighbouring States. How long will the PM continue to allow the import of manja by swinging along with the Chinese President,” Mr. Sisodia said in his defence.
The AAP leader, however, admitted that there was indeed a delay in issuing a draft notification banning the sale, storage and manufacturing of Chinese manja in the city.
The government had written to the L-G seeking action against the erring officials, Mr. Sisodia said.
Opposition speaks
Meanwhile, the Leader of the Opposition Vijender Gupta said the Delhi government was responsible for the August 15 deaths as it delayed issuing the ban order.
Supporting his claim, the BJP leader said a meeting with an NGO was held in March 2015 in the Delhi Secretariat and discussion on the ban took place.
“Then in June, the additional secretary moved a file asking for a ban. But the file remained pending for more than a year. And now, the AAP government is blaming officials and L-G for the delay,” Mr. Gupta said.
