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Ban on Chinese manja not effective

According to market sources, traders have already stocked Chinese kites and thread and will sell them surreptitiously, if needed, to avert losses.

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Even though the state government has banned Chinese thread or manja used to fly kites during the festival of Uttarayan, the ban is unlikely to be effective this year. According to market sources, traders have already stocked Chinese kites and thread and will sell them surreptitiously, if needed, to avert losses.

Chinese thread has become immensely popular among kite flyers over the years as it is very sharp compared to common thread. However, its sharpness has proved fatal for birds, animals and human beings. Last year, many incidents of citizens, birds and animals being injured by Chinese manja had been reported.

The state government has invoked section 5 of the Environmental Protection Act and banned the use of Chinese thread. It means that both sale and purchase of Chinese thread will now be an offence. However, if the government does not take strict action, such thread is likely to be easily available.

“Invocation of the act is unlikely to deter trade in Chinese manja as traders book orders two to three months prior to the festival and have also received deliveries,” said a market player on condition of anonymity. “Only public awareness against its use will help to enforce the ban,” he added.

Jay Modi, a trader of Maninagar, said, “Chinese thread is highly popular as the kites using it are not cut easily.”  Some avid kite flyers have also supported the ban. “Uttarayan is a festival of joy. Hence, people should use common thread, so that one’s joy doesn’t prove fatal for others,” said Pratik Shah, a kite flyer.
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