Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court has directed the state govt to trace the source through which banned nylon manja reaches the city.A bench of Justices Anil Kilor and Rajnish Vyas asked the authorities to identify the source of supply and ascertain whether the deadly string is reaching Nagpur by rail, road or courier services.The court’s directions came recently while hearing a suo motu PIL based on various media reports highlighting injuries and deaths caused by the deadly string among humans and animals in Vidarbha. It had earlier directed authorities to put in place an effective mechanism to prevent the manufacture, sale and use of the banned string.The state govt informed the court about measures including special teams, area-wise surveillance, fixing responsibility on officials, coordination with the transport department and traffic police, and coordination with the railway parcel department. The municipal corporation informed the court that its website and a WhatsApp number had been made available for complaints.It emerged during the hearing that govt did not have information about the precise source of nylon manja. The judges then directed the authorities to trace the supply chain. Authorities have also been directed to submit details of nylon manja seized since last year.The court also questioned the failure of the administrative authorities concerned to curb nylon manja sale over the past five years. It orally asked why the cost of treatment of persons injured by the banned string should not be recovered from the officials concerned.The bench further directed that the policy concerning prevention of nylon manja use be circulated to officials concerned across various departments.Nischay Jadhav appeared as amicus curiae, while Shishir Uke represented the state govt and SS Sanyal appeared for the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board.
