Despite complete ban imposed by National Green Tribunal on the use of 'Chinese kite strings, made of nylon or any synthetic material which is non-biodegradable, it is openly selling in the markets of the holy city.
In July last year, the NGT had imposed a complete ban on the manufacturing, sale, production, supply and use of kite string made of nylon, plastic or any other synthetic material on the grounds that it posed threat to life and the environment.
Taking cognisance of the rising complaints of the incidents involving kite strings, the tribunal had taken this decision of banning the nylon strings.
With the kite flying season reaching its peak on Makar Sankranti festival which is just round the corner, it is expected that the bird injuries would multiply. Not only the birds bear the brunt of such strings, some accidents are also reported in which people sustain injuries on throat and limbs but people still continue using ‘manjha’ coated with crushed glass or plastic material which gives them edge over their competitors using cotton thread strings which break easily.
The strings hanging from the tree branches and electricity poles often pose threat to the commuters who fail to see the thin thread and end up getting cuts from it.
The wings and claws of the birds also get entangled on the kite string and many times the wings sustain serious damage due to the sharp strings during flight.
It is the cheapness of the plastic ‘manjha’ which attracts the users without knowing how harmful it can be to others.
Speaking to The Pioneer, a shopkeeper from Jwalapur Dehraj said, “The plastic kite string is stronger and cheaper than other strings used for kite flying. We get plastic manjha rolls from Saharanpur. It is in much demand and we have to provide to the customer who demands it.”
The past many incidents have been reported from Jwalapur, Kankhal and lodha Mandi where people live in narrow lanes and competitions in kite flying are held from the roof tops among the children and youths.
Children from localities including slum areas who run after kites which are severed, often meet with accidents.