Maharashtra bans sale and use of 'manja' kite strings

NASHIK: The Maharashtra government has issued a circular banning the sale and use of sharp kite strings called ' manja' which injure and kill birds as well as people.

The circular under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act 1986 was issued after a petition seeking a ban on 'manja' was filed by a citizen in the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court, according to a People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India release issued here today.

The Nagpur-based organisation People for Animals are a party in the matter.

Previously, after receiving appeals from PETA India, the government advisory body Animal Welfare Board of India had urged states and union territories to ban 'manja', while the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change had sent letters urging them to address the issue, the PETA release said.

According to PETA, the Maharashtra government order states, "The public is not allowed to use pucca threads, commonly known as nylon manja which is made of plastic or any such synthetic material and is likely to cause grievous injury to birds as well as humans during kite-flying".

"Wholesalers dealing in nylon manja will be told well in advance not to stock or sell it during the Makar Sankranti festival. Nylon manja threads are not to be used because they have adverse effects on soil, waterways and cattle populations since they are non-biodegradable and cause immense injury to animals," the release said.