Will impose penalty for not following Chinese 'manjha' ban: Delhi Govt.

New Delhi, Aug. 17 (ANI): Asserting that action would be taken against those not following the Chinese manjha ban, the Delhi Government on Wednesday said that there would be punishment up to an year and penalty of up to Rs. one lakh. "Chinese manjha is completely banned in Delhi. We had sent the notification. If anyone doesn't abide then there is punishment of up to a year and penalty of up to Rs. one lakh," Health Minister Satyendra Jain told the media here. Following the loss of lives in the national capital, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led government put a ban on the sale, production and storage of glass-coated threads or Chinese manjha. A blame game has begun after kite strings claimed three lives earlier on Monday with Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia accusing Environment Secretary Chandraker Bharti of taking seven days to clear a notification. Sisodia also wrote to Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung seeking action against the Environment Secretary for 'gross negligence in duty and insensitiveness in Chinese manja case'. "Environment Secretary took 7 days to issue notification though file was cleared by my & Env Minster's office within minutes on 9th Aug," Sisodia tweeted. "Chinese manja and other kite flying thread which is made of glass, sharp material is dangerous. Safety of our citizens is non-negotiable," he said in a series of tweets. The Lieutenant Governor's office has, however, according to reports said that Jung had approved the draft notification on August 8 and sent it back to the government the next day while accusing the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of delaying issuance of the draft notification despite the fact that he had sent the notification with his approval to the Environment Department on August 9. According to the draft notification issued by the Environment Secretary, kite flying will be permissible only with a cotton thread and natural fibre free from any metallic and glass components. Violation of directions will be punishable with an imprisonment of up to five years or fine which may be extended to Rs. one lakh or with both. (ANI)