NEW DELHI: Asserting that the Delhi Government had taken steps to discourage children from consuming junk food or imbibing the "cola culture'' nearly two years ago, Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely on Saturday stated that the Government would await for an advisory from the Centre before taking any decision on banning consumption and storage of colas in schools across the Capital.

"We are awaiting a formal report from the Union Government on the issue of presence of pesticides in soft drinks of leading cola companies. As soon as we get an advisory, we will chalk out a plan of action and take a decision in the interests of the students and society,'' said Mr. Lovely while denying that any formal ban had been placed on the sale and consumption of colas in government schools.

Stating that an advisory was issued by the Education Department to private as well as government schools nearly two years ago to stop serving junk food and drinks in school canteens that pose health risks, Mr. Lovely said if necessary the advisory would be withdrawn and it would be made mandatory for schools to ban serving of such food items and drinks in their canteens.

Stating that no formal ban had been placed on serving or consumption of colas in schools across the Capital, Mr. Lovely said the school managements were also wise enough to understand the impact these have on the health of students and they should take a decision accordingly. "I have only come across newspaper reports and what has been projected on TV channels. We have to get some direction from the Government or the Health Department before we arrive at any decision,'' he stated.

On the recent exposes on news channels on the wrong doings in the admission process, Mr. Lovely warned that strict action would be taken against those schools and managements who indulged in irregularities and followed wrong practise in giving admission to students.

Stating that he had received complaints from various sections on the wrong practises being followed by certain schools in the admission process, Mr. Lovely said he had already ordered an inquiry against the school authorities that committed gross irregularities in connection with the recent admissions. An order has been issued to the Director of Education Department seeking a probe into the role of the schools managements and others who had connived and indulge in wrong practices during admissionsMr. Lovely said irregularities in the admission process was a serious problem and there was a need to take disciplinary action against school authorities

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