Delhi Government Thursday invoked emergency powers in issuing prohibitory orders banning powdered glass or metal coated kite strings (manja), a day after the lt Governor's office indicated that the draft notification in this regard would not serve its intended purpose.
The order issued by Divisional Commissioner A Anbarasu under section 133, read with section 142, of CrPC, bans for a period of one month the manufacturing, trading and use of any string coated with powdered glass, metal, or any other similar property.
Such material (manza) is used to enhance the sharpness of strings and is extremely popular in kite flying. Stray manza snuffed out three lives, including that of two children, on Independence Day this year. The Delhi government had issued a draft notification banning it in the city only on August 16.